Post GE13: What traits should new Cabinet members have?

Malaysians have begun expressing the type of leaders they would like to see in the new Cabinet of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

In a survey by Astro AWANI on its Facebook page, readers were asked to share the traits or qualities they would like to see in their future ministers and deputy ministers.

Top characteristics mentioned included being someone who was ‘clean from corruption, transparent, and listens to the people’.

There were also those who specifically suggested some names, including former Temerloh MP and deputy higher education minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and Barisan Nasional youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who were two of the most frequently mentioned.

Names such as Tan Sri Shahrir Samad, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, and Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, also came up.

There was even one message from one Dinazeti Adnan that suggested opposition leaders Husam Musa of PAS and Rafizi Ramli of PKR.

"PM Najib should appoint few opposition MPs to be part of his new cabinet minister.. America can do it but why can't we? Nik Aziz or Hadi Awang could be made as Religious Advisor in PM department.. This will make people have more respect towards the new government," commented Zamir Shukri Zain, a AstroAwani.com reader.

One Simon Chan said the leader must be “transparent, clean and ‘berjiwa rakyat’(people oriented)” and that “it does not matter what race he or she is as long as he works for Malaysia and not to increase his own wealth”.

Aus Hassan wrote: “Not corrupted, and not one who would like to stir up racism, upright.”

Another reader, Pat Av Ezong said that the minister given the five year mandate must develop the interiors especially in Sabah and Sarawak as these two states have contributed to the government’s win in the 13th General Election.

Flora Asing said that the leader must be “open minded, willing to listen to the problems of the rakyat, and is not racist”.

Izrael Pmas said that the leader must be able to translate the actual wants of the people into the vision and mission of the ministry under him or her. “A leader with credibility, character, calm, and strives to better the reputatation (of the country)”.

“Trustworthy, honest, does not lie... brave, a fighter, delivers fairnes, and is a Islamic man for the Muslims," wrote Rahim Selamat.

Jue Zierah said:” Concerned about people's problems, help the poor, stop rising prices and burden the people, give jobs to the unemployed, honest, fair, do not practice corruption, do not cheat people, don’t ignore Sabah and Sarawak, promise must be fulfilled.”

The Malaysian cabinet has been previously criticised as being too large and had multiple ministries that may overlap in functions.

The immediate past Cabinet had 28 ministers, which was smaller sized than the 32 minister Cabinet of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration.

Singapore, which has a population of 5.31 million, has 24 Cabinet members. In India, at a 1.028 billion population, there are 33 cabinet members. Britian has a 22-member cabinet but a 62.4 million population. Thailand has a population of 64 million and 20 cabinet members. In Australia, there is about 22.7 million in population and 20 cabinet members. China, with a population of 1.344 billion has 27 cabinet members.

A study by Medical University of Vienna in a 2008 found that performance of government declines at larger sizes. The study showed that ideal size is about 20 cabinet members.

In GE13, ministers such as Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui were dropped as candidates.

Those who contested, such as Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung were defeated in the polls.

In the BN manifesto, Najib had spoke about setting up a new ministry to reflect the pronounced urban shift in the country's demographic pattern and address urban economic and social challenges.

He also spoke about giving jurisdiction of non-Muslim matters to a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.