Shuffle Along,...Slowly,...

If there is one truth to observe about the Abdullah administration in Malaysia, so far - it is that, if you don't expect anything, you will not get disappointed.

Without fail, every anticipated major announcement by Pak Lah ever since after the last elections, has fallen a bit short of what the masses expected of him. Perhaps, this is a product of excessive spin-doctoring engineered by some of the Young Turks during the National Front's huge success, in last general election.

They over-hyped, we over-hoped and over-supported and the end-result is sheer disappointment, on the part of the electorate. At least, that is the consensus verdict, halfway through the Abdullah administration.

Some may give Pak Lah the benefit of the doubt and say that the 9th Malaysia Plan is not yet rolled out, so please give the man the benefit of the doubt (and I was one of those people) - but events have shown us so far, that there were ample opportunities for the Prime Minister to stamp his mark on some past and current national issues.

But Mr. Nice Guy remains, at best, a nice man and a fair leader and at worst, absolutely ineffective and not up to confronting the challenges that Malaysia, currently faces.

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As far as the recent Cabinet reshuffle is concerned - I felt that it was a major letdown.

Yes, a few ineffective Ministers were removed. And their replacements, are respectable and noteworthy leaders.

Let's start with what's great about the recent Minister reshuffle.

Datuk Mustapa Mohamad's appointment as the Minister of Higher Education is surprising, but welcome. His experience and background had always been more of an economics, finance and entrepreneur development slant - and higher education would be something new to him.

The Higher Education portfolio is a highly challenging one and I believe, will either prove the making or breaking of Dato' Mustapa's ministerial and political career.

Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad's appointment as Home Affairs Minister is also a good one. He's always had a good astute feel for the gaps in the laws of this country and his decisiveness and frankness on issues, will prove to be an asset to Pak Lah's Cabinet and in improving transparency and public confidence in some parts of the civil service.

Datuk Zainuddin Maidin's (or "Zam" as he is more fondly known) elevation to full Minister in the Information Ministry has sparked some mixed reactions amongst the journos & new media community. One wonders as well, the impact that Zam would have on the shape of the entertainment world, in Malaysia. Also to be noted, is that Zam is seen to be a strong Mahathir loyalist.

Some are elated to have "their own kind" as Minister and some others (especially in the new media and blogging community), fear an impending clampdown on voices which are seen to be critical of the Government's actions and mistakes. Time will tell.

Datuk Tengku Adnan Mansor's appointment to the Tourism portfolio was surprising. Personally, considering his influence in Putrajaya - I would have expected him to be appointed the FT Minister. But perhaps, he will do better than Leo Toyad did. This move is also seen as strengthening the support of former Mahathir loyalists to Pak Lah.

I'm indifferent to Datuk Azmi Khalid's appointment to the Natural Resources and Environment portfolio. I would have preferred him in the Information portfolio (and glamorous wife, Datin Normala, would have been perfect foil, for this Ministry) but it doesn't really matter.

Datuk Seri Effendi Norwawi's return as Minister in the PM's Department, is not surprising considering developments in Sarawak politics and where Datuk Adenan Satem is the clear front-runner to take over the Chief Minister's post, soon and Leo Toyad is slated to return to the state politics fold too.

But one wonders whether Effendi's frustration with the Government machinery (which was rumoured to be one of the leading causes of why he left the Cabinet the first time round) would continue to haunt him.

He is slated to take over Dato' Mustapa's strategic and economic planning role as Minister in the PM's Department - and he will be an asset and a decisive leader - provided that he's not a reluctant Minister.

Dato' Zulhasnan Rafique's elevation to full Minister to FT Minister was not entirely surprising, as he was already Deputy Minister in the same portfolio. And being a Pak Lah loyalist, this strengthens Pak Lah's overall strength in UMNO.


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On the Deputy Minister's side, Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin's "promotion" to Deputy Finance Minister from Rural and Regional Development, is a good move.

Pak Lah seems to be choosing the best and most competent of people to be under him, in the Ministry of Finance - with the other Ministers being Tan Sri Nor Mohd Yackop as Minister of Finance II and Deputy Finance Minister, Dato' Dr Ng Yen Yen. And hopefully, Aang Adek's entry into MOF, will lessen the traditional "friendly" rivalry between Ministry of Finance and Bank Negara.

Datuk Liow Tong Lai's appointment as Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports is most welcome and not unexpected, either - as he is the new MCA Youth Chief.

Together with Dato' Azalina, the Minister of Youth and Sports - who is founder of and former Puteri UMNO Chief and who would still qualify to be called "youth" if she was a man - the Youth and Sports portfolio seems to have been taken over by the people from the Youth wings of Barisan. It's about time that the young be given a chance to fully govern their own age-group.

Datuk Ong Tee Keat's appointment as Deputy Minister of Higher Education is another great move. Datuk Ong is an MCA Vice-President, is fluent in at least 3 languages including Malay and together with Dato's Mustapa, should make quite a potent combination, in resolving the issues in relation to higher education.

Although, if I'm not wrong, this is his 3rd portfolio as a Deputy Minister. Perhaps, in the next round of Cabinet reshuffling - Datuk Ong should be given a full Minister status. I think he deserves it.


Ng Lip Yong's appointment to the post of Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, is also another good move. I've had the privilege of having a long chat with Ng Lip Yong and in my opinion, this man is the best of breed in Gerakan. He's a reformist at heart and he's aware of the changes that need to be made. This is the man to watch.


Dato' Noh Omar's move AWAY from Internal Security is a good one - but how he performs as Deputy Minister of Education, remains to be seen.

Datuk Donald Lim's transfer away from the Ministry of Information to the Ministry of Tourism, I believe, will do much to boost tourism. Tourism is just one of those portfolios that will not do, without MCA representation.

However, the Deputies in the Information portfolio has now been taken over by Chia Kwang Chye of Gerakan and Datuk Zahid Hamidi of UMNO.

What this basically means - is that the MCA has no more representation in the Information Ministry. I wonder how the MCA-owned newspapers will react going forward and whether they will be more cautious with their comments?


Another surprise appointment is Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman, who has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development. Reputed to be a bright spark from Penang, his appointment notes Pak Lah's continued personal focus on rural development and eradication of rural poverty.

Some UMNO cynics speculate that he's been put there to keep an eye on the Minister, Datuk Aziz Shamsuddin, who is reputed to be a Mahathir loyalist, one of those who had been retained in Pak Lah's Cabinet.


I'll skip the rest of the Deputy Minister appointments - because it's not really significant.

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So, that ends the good parts of the "minor" Cabinet reshuffle. What are the bad parts?

Many had expected to be Dato' Seri Rafidah to be removed. I was not one of those people. Furthermore, it has to be acknowledged that Rafidah is probably one of the most competent and experienced Cabinet Ministers around.

But yes, I did expect her to be transferred from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, to a new Ministry. After the AP issue, some of the gaps of which are still there, a "let-off" like this, does not reflect well on the Abdullah administration.

The signal that it sends out is - it's okay for you to do funny business in Government, as long as you're highly competent and able in your job.

It's like having separate set of integrity rules for the bright and the stupid. It makes a mockery out of Pak Lah preaching about openness, transparency and accountability. Where is the courage to act, as was promised to us, during the elections? This will definitely have an effect on public opinion, of the current administration.


The performance of some other Ministers and ministries should have been reviewed and the Ministers replaced. I could count at least 5 Ministries which performance (or under-performance and/or perhaps, wastage too) should have been reviewed and at least, the Higher Education portfolio was 1 out 5, that was actually addressed.


Some Federal Ministers are much more suited to being Chief Ministers, in their own state. The clues to look out for are Ministers who run their federal level ministries like their own backyard - swift, haphazard, on a whim, without consultation and done purely to impress the Prime Minister. If you want the facts, just ask the agencies under them.

The general expectation was that Pak Lah would bring in more of the younger ones as full Ministers/Deputy Ministers/Parliamentary Secretaries and to reflect Malaysia's youthful demographics. This exprectation fell flat. The youngest of the new appointees, Datuk Liow Tong Lai, is 45 years old, albeit being the MCA Youth Chief.

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Pak Lah has mentioned that this is the team which he expects to "carry through the 9th Malaysia Plan".

My verdict and prediction after seeing the latest Cabinet assembly - which is virtually, the same team - is that this team will fall short of expectations, come 2011. Most of them have failed for the 8th Malaysia Plan, anyway. (I'm excluding the 7th Malaysia Plan, due to the economic crisis)

The world has changed and it's going faster. Other countries around us have got their political and governance fundamentals and best people together and are forging ahead, surpassing us.

We are in need of Ministers, leaders and civil servants that can run faster, too and is brave enough to make radical changes and honest enough to serve and be accountable. The same old thing, will fail us.

The recent "non-event" Cabinet reshuffle is like changing the coat of paint on the car and expecting it to go 100 kilometres per hour faster, than it previously did. It's a cosmetic effort doomed to failure, all other things being equal.

I've always wondered how Tunku Abdul Rahman, the "happy Prime Minister" had fallen out of touch with the true opinion of his own people. Close to 40 years later, I'm finding out, first hand.

Whatever it is, may God be with you, Pak Lah.