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Sunday, May 19, 2013

Overlooked BN MPs being placated with Cabinet reshuffle pledge, say sources

Najib is said to have filled his Cabinet with his eyes firmly on the Umno election later this year. — File picKUALA LUMPUR, May 19 ― Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs not given a government post have been told they will get other jobs or a place in a Cabinet reshuffle after the Umno polls ― if they stop grumbling in public, say sources.
The Malaysian Insider understands that Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s aides and a few ministers have told these BN lawmakers that they should not avoid publicly airing their grouses as the Cabinet will be reshuffled later.
“Some PM’s aides and ministers have called up these MPs and told them not to make noise, and offer them top posts or a future Cabinet post when there is a reshuffle after Umno elections,” a BN source told The Malaysian Insider.
The Umno elections are scheduled for this October, and most of the party’s top office bearers and supreme council members received government posts. Some have been left out in the Cabinet list issued last Wednesday and are privately complaining that MPs without party positions have been rewarded.
The source also confirmed the prime minister has asked to meet dropped Umno ministers Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor and Datuk Seri Noh Omar over their future prospects after the May 5 general election.
It is learnt that several MPs who rejected government posts have also been told to meet Najib. BN won 133 federal seats in Election 2013, with 57 MPs made ministers and deputy ministers.
“Arrangements are being made for Shaziman, Noh and these MPs to meet the PM as soon as possible,” he added.
Another source said these MPs will be given posts in government agencies for the time being.
“It is routine for retired politicians or backbenchers to become chairmen and directors of some of these agencies and state firms. So expect some news soon,” the source added.
MPs who were chairmen or directors of these agencies were asked to step down before the general elections, leaving some vacancies to be filled soon, said the source.
Critics and analysts have said the Cabinet unveiled last Wednesday is packed with Najib’s supporters to fend off any challenge in the party elections.
“The party polls come first, then the reshuffle. But if all the president’s men win, then there will be minimal changes,” said an Umno warlord.
BN is also trying to placate several Sarawak parties that have complained that they should get more representation and in relevant sectors, in line with the parliamentary seats they won in the general elections.
Parties like PRS won six federal seats but its Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum rejected another turn as a deputy minister while party colleague Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun reluctantly accepted a Cabinet position.
Another Sarawak party, SPDP, won four federal seats but ended up without any government post. But MIC have two Cabinet ministers and two deputy ministers to show for the four federal seats it retained.
Two other Borneo parties, Sarawak’s SUPP and Sabah’s PBRS, won one federal seat each and both managed to get a Cabinet position.
The Borneo politicians had also complained they wanted to be in ministries that are relevant to their states, especially in agriculture and also communications to bridge the digital divide.
“There is something quite wrong when both the Communications and Multimedia minister and deputy minister are from Terengganu. Who thought of that,” one Sarawak politician asked, referring to Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek and deputy Datuk Johari Jailani.
It is understood that the prime minister will meet the leaders of these parties soon to iron out their complaints and ensure the 13-member coalition remains stable and united.

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