YOURSAY | 'Shouldn't we appoint someone with science and technology background?'

PM unveils names of 13 ministers, more to come

Vent: I’m happy that Anthony Loke (transport), Gobind Singh Deo (communications and multimedia), M Kulasegaran (human resources), Salahuddin Ayub (agriculture and agro-based industry) and Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (health) are in as they are all solid hardworking stalwarts.

Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would have been a better choice for Health Ministry though.

But I’m unhappy that newbies Maszlee Malik is education minister and Rina Harun, rural development minister. Both have no track records.

Saifuddin Abdullah would have been a far better choice than Maszlee for education.

I’m not excited about Zuraida Kamaruddin as housing and local government minister but at least she has been working in that area.

And it is anomalous to give the sitting Selangor MB Azmin Ali a ministry post as well. Obviously, he can’t be both.

And where are the MPs from East Malaysia? Why isn’t Baru Bian in? Perhaps in the second roll call?

And when that happens, let’s hope it includes Ong Kian Ming, Hannah Yeoh (infinitely more palatable than Teresa Kok), Tony Pua, Charles Santiago, Hanipa Maidin and even Chong Chieng Jen.

Most of all, a way must be found to include the valiant Rafizi Ramli, who energised the electoral campaign so brilliantly, as well as Liew Chin Tong who sacrificed himself.

BuatApa?: Maszlee is the wrong appointment as education minister. It's a very regressive move.

I still think Pua or Rafizi will make far better finance ministers than Lim Guan Eng, who has amassed a few question marks about him.

Muhyiddin Yassin as home minister will be interesting if his ‘ketuanan Melayu’ stripes are still painted on his soul, and Mohamad Sabu as defence minister is really curious in this day and age of rising geopolitical uncertainty around the world and especially in East Asia.

Funny old dude, Mahathir. I wonder what criteria he used in selecting his cabinet to drive Malaysian into the 21st century.

I'm less optimistic about Malaysia's future under this regime. But let's see what these people say and do over the next 90 days.

Politician: Who the hell is our new education minister? I heard he joined Bersatu on March 12 this year and he is now a minister?

While I still support Harapan, I totally disagree with this appointment.

Come on, Mahathir, yes, we supported you all the way but it appears like you are going overboard by bringing in your own people when there are many others who had worked their guts out and contributed to Harapan’s win.

This is grossly unfair to PKR (the biggest party in the ruling coalition). It should get the most number of seats.

Doc, your appointment of a total unknown to be education minister is totally unacceptable. I don't care what others are going to say, but I think you are trying to hijack the administration of this country.

Casper: Since Harapan got 114 MPs, and here are 15 cabinet posts. PKR should get 6, DAP 5, Bersatu 2 and Amanah 2.

When the cabinet expands to 25, the breakdown should be 10, 9, 3, 3. That means Bersatu and Amanah have already reached their allocated numbers.

Pro-Justice: Tun's choice of the cabinet and its composition is good except for Rina (rural development) and Maszlee (education).

Why appoint two new MPs for full ministerial posts when there are more experienced people like Rafizi and Pua, just to name a few? Rina and Mazlee should have been nominated later on as assistant ministers.

Another choice that is a bit of a puzzle is Azmin Ali. Can he hold the post of menteri besar and a cabinet portfolio?

Anyway, it is Tun's prerogative as PM.

Demi Rakyat: Tun M took great pains before to tell us that the composition of the cabinet ministers will not be based on the strength of the parties for this round.

I am sure numbers will be equalised, including from Sabah and Sarawak, when the full cabinet is formed.

Anonymous_1373876999: Why appoint Maszlee, an Islamic scholar, to be education minister? Shouldn't we appoint someone with science and technology background to do this very important role?

This appointment is very disappointing. If Malaysia is to progress, it needs more students in science and technology - engineers, scientists, computer programmers, etc.

Anonymous 2485381503371480: I have heard Maszlee speak at ISEAS so many times and he came across as level-headed, rational, sensible.

Nevertheless, he still has to answer to his cabinet colleagues in pushing for education reforms. Let his actions speak louder than his past words.

Onlooker: I hope Maszlee can look at the whole current mess holistically, especially the quality (selection and training) of teachers and curriculum development.

The proper use/inclusion of English is also very important. One thing he may be good for is to bring all the madrassah schools into the mainstream and ensure that they are properly regulated.

These schools must teach an approved curriculum to ensure the students are up with their peers in other schools.

Anonymous_20f13320L|: I look forward with hope to the new cabinet of Malaysia.

Truth to be told, I don't know most of them but it is all right, I hope they will do a spectacular job in building a Malaysia for all Malaysians, one that is inclusive of our diversity, which is our strength.

It is awesome to see that three of the minister’s posts are filled by women. That is an awesome development.

Anonymous_1420346063: We respect what PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said about his daughter not taking a cabinet post to avoid allegations of nepotism. However, Nurul Izzah’s talent is wasted.

She would have made a great foreign minister. She speaks well and very smart, just like her dad and Tun. Well, we just have to respect their ‘no family’ deal.

Anonymous_534b7352: All ministers must declare their assets in line with rakyat’s expectation.

Follow what was done by the Penang state government in requiring all state executive councillors to declare their assets upon appointment and at the end of their term in government.

Both Rafizi (who did not contest) and Liew Chin Tong (who lost) deserve to be playing a strong role in government.

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