Opposition: A cabinet for Malaysians

The opposition want a cabinet that would deliver for all Malaysians instead of playing the race card.

Due to their poor performance during the recent General Election (GE13), MCA and Gerakan decided not to seek any cabinet positions.

The Transport Ministry, a spot reserved for MCA, is temporarily under Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein until the party decides to amend its decision.

In the new line up, representing the Chinese community are Senator Datuk Paul Low and Datuk Mary Yap.

DAP’s Member of Parliament for Kulai Teo Nie Ching, when contacted by Astro Awani said that the racial composition of cabinet members should not be a concern.

“There shouldn’t be any issue whether they are Malay, Chinese, or Indian because race is not important. What’s important is that they must deliver,” Teo said.

Instead of focusing on the racial composition, Teo’s main concern is having only two ministers who are women.

“We should encourage women empowerment. Barisan Nasional had previously called for an increase of women in decision-making positions for up to 30 per cent.

“However with just two women in the current cabinet as Ministers, that percentage is less than 10 percent. We need to increase it to 15 to 20 percent to achieve the 30 percent target. These women should also not be restricted to certain portfolios,” she said.

PKR vice-president and Batu MP Tian Chua has also said that the lack of Chinese faces is not a problem but he is hoping for a cabinet that would represent Malaysians at large.

“It is expected especially with MCA making a decision not to enter the cabinet.” said Tian Chua.

“The real problem is whetherUMNO representatives or those representing East Malaysia are broad-minded enough to represent all Malaysians. Presently, I don’t see some members being able to represent the vision of all Malaysians,” he said.

He said that the real problem is when certain leaders would be inclined to only serve the interests of the party they represent.

Over at Gelang Patah, DAP Parliamentary Leader and MP for Gelang Patah Lim Kit Siang expressed his disappointment over the government's decision to by-pass former Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Ghani Othman a senatorship and a post in the cabinet.

"The UMNO leadership had praised Ghani sky-high during the 13th General Election campaign when fielding him as a parliamentary candidate for Gelang Patah against me, and it is most unfair and ungrateful for UMNO leaders to drop Ghani like a ton of bricks after Ghani failed to defeat me in Gelang Patah in the May 5 polls," Lim said.

He, however, praised UMNO Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin's appointment with a ministerial post but thought he should be given a different portfolio.

"His appointment to the comparatively minor cabinet portfolio of Minister for Youth and Sports is a great injustice when he should be appointed to more substantive responsibilities," he added.