Cabinet Reshuffle: UMNO Questions Appointment of 2 Chinese MPs as Federal Territories Minister & Deputy

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a Cabinet reshuffle yesterday (16 December), with several notable changes, including dropping two Ministers entirely from the Cabinet.

UMNO Secretary-General Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has shared his thoughts on the announcement, emphasising that the public reaction to certain appointments in the new cabinet shouldn’t be taken lightly.

UMNO Secretary-General ponders the fate of urban Bumiputeras

In a Facebook post, Asyraf said one of the issues raised by netizens was the appointment of Hannah Yeoh and Lo Su Fui as Minister and Deputy Minister for Federal Territories, noting that both are of Chinese ethnicity.

“Why was the Federal Territories Minister appointed from DAP, and the Deputy Minister also a Chinese appointee from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)? What about the fate of urban Bumiputeras? Could this be the start of local government elections?”

Asyraf wajdi

He also outlined the cabinet’s racial and party composition, including Ministers and Deputy Ministers:

1. Racial composition

• Ministers – Malay (17), Chinese (5), Indians (2), Sarawak Bumiputera (5), Sabah Bumiputera (3)
• Deputy Ministers – Malay (10), Chinese (5), Indian (2), Sarawak Bumiputera (7), Sabah Bumiputera (6)

2. Composition of coalition parties

• Ministers – PKR (9), DAP (5), AMANAH (2), BN (8), GPS (5), GRS (1)

He’s also questioning the appointments of candidates who are considered “controversial”

Asyraf also voiced concerns over some appointments. One of whom was Marhamah Rosli, who was chosen as Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs, given the controversies surrounding her.

“The Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs is a figure surrounded by controversy, including the Zara Qairina issue, posts linked to an RM14 million gold scam debt, and questions about prayer and worship practices.”

Additionally, he questioned why Adam Adli Abd Halim was appointed as Deputy Minister of Higher Education, describing him as “one of the loudest voices calling for Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) to be abolished.”

“Can the appointment of a PKR activist as Deputy Minister of Higher Education, someone who was one of the loudest voices calling for PTPTN to be abolished during the BN administration, actually deliver on that agenda?”

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know down in the comments!

Also read: Cabinet Reshuffle: PAS MP Offers “Condolences” to PMX Over ‘Death’ of His Previous Reform Promises