UMNO Youth Chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh has come to the defence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, saying that he has the right to appoint anyone to the Cabinet.
This comes after Anwar announced a Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday (16 December), bringing several notable changes.
UMNO and PAS respond to the Cabinet reshuffle
Many have voiced concerns over the new Cabinet line-up, including UMNO Secretary-General Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who questioned the fate of urban Bumiputeras after two Members of Parliament (MPs) of Chinese ethnicity, Hannah Yeoh and Lo Su Fui, were appointed Federal Territories Minister and Deputy Minister, respectively.
Asyraf Wajdi also raised concerns about certain appointments, including an individual chosen as Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs, given the controversies surrounding the candidate.
“This is just a glimpse of the strong sentiment circulating on social media since the announcement. Such concerns can’t be ignored and need to be handled carefully,” he said.
PAS Information Chief Fadhli Shaari also weighed in, pointing out that Anwar’s position as Finance Minister hasn’t changed. He even sarcastically offered his “condolences” over what he called the ‘death’ of Anwar’s previous reform promises.
“The Prime Minister can choose anyone he believes is right for the position”
While many have questioned Anwar’s choices in appointing ministers, Dr Akmal has defended the Prime Minister, saying he has the right to appoint anyone he considers fit and suitable.
In a Facebook post, Akmal added that the ministers reflect the image and vision of the Prime Minister.
“The appointment of ministers is the Prime Minister’s prerogative. This means he can appoint anyone he sees fit, including individuals who are not elected representatives,” he said.
Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh
Dr Akmal also slammed those who questioned Anwar’s appointments, remarking, “These are the ‘clothes’ Anwar chooses to wear in leading the country.”
He added that if a minister isn’t competent or fails to do their job, the public will judge them by not supporting their party in future elections.
“If a minister made promises before taking office, they must not forget them once in office. If they do their job well, the people will support them and vote for their party. The public is perfectly capable of judging performance.
“So, to the ministers: congratulations on your appointments. But this isn’t the time for celebrations or making careless statements that could offend the public or touch on sensitive issues. This is the time to work for the people.”
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