Non-appointment of a DPM not against the law

The non-appointment of a deputy prime minister in the announcement of the new Cabinet yesterday is not against the law as provided under the Federal Constitution.

Lawyer and constitutional expert, Datuk Salehuddin Saidin, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin's appointment of four senior ministers instead would carry out the duties in his absence.

“Indeed, our country had never not had a deputy prime minister.

"However, it is not illegal under the provisions of the Federal Constitution because the constitution itself has never stated the need to appoint a deputy prime minister," he said in an interview with Astro Awani on Tuesday.

Salehudin regarded the Cabinet announced by Muhyiddin yesterday as bloated --altogether there were 31 ministers and 37 deputy ministers who took their oath before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Melawati, Putrajaya today.

Discussing the same subject, University of Malaya political analyst, Associate Professor Dr Hamidin Abd Hamid, argued that the division of such a large component was still considered in the interests of forming the Perikatan Nasional government.

"It may not be in accordance with convention where the party leaders are appointed but the division is still taking into account the importance and presence of each component that makes up the Perikatan Nasional," he added.

Hamidin said the new Cabinet, which he too deemed as too large, showed how it was more of a consensus in that context.

On the non-apointment of a deputy prime minister, Hamidin said such development would contribute to a leadership crisis in the country's politics.

“The leadership turmoil will continue as it reflects more on the manifestation of a leadership.

“It continues to mean that we are still not clear what will happen if the Prime Minister resigns. Who will be empowered to claim that he has the position of deputy prime minister?, ” he asked.

Hamidin said the direction of the new Cabinet was also looked forward to by the people as the country was facing various challenges such as the COVID-19 epidemic, the fall in oil prices and the global economic market.