Analyst: DCM or no, Chinese well represented in Sarawak cabinet

Despite the hue and cry over the lack of a deputy chief minister's post for the Chinese community in Sarawak, they are already well represented in the state cabinet and their interests are well looked after by Chief Minister Adenan Satem, argues an analyst.

"The issue must be viewed from the context of ethnic demographics in Sarawak. The bumiputera forms (the majority with) about 75 percent of the population (compared to the Chinese which has less representation).

"Yet two full minister posts was given to the Chinese, one from Kuching and the other from the middle region. It is understood that two junior minister posts will also go to the ethnic group," Universiti Malaya political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi toldMalaysiakini.

He also noted that SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian's appointment as full minister is also "very extraordinary" because by right one must prove one's capabilities in lower posts like that of junior minister before being promoted to full minister.

"It it rare for a first time elected representatives to be directly appointed to full minister. It is not based on actual performance. It is only a political appointment. This is not good when it come to building an effective administration," Awang Azman said.

But more than the already extraordinary appointment of the relatively inexperienced Sim, the analyst said that the Chinese are already accorded a very powerful portfolio in the cabinet line-up.

"The Chinese has already been given one of the most senior, important and strategic posts in the cabinet, which is the second finance minister. Dr Sim's (photo) post is also a senior post once held by Wong Soon Koh," the academician posited.

Indeed, Awang Azman said that Micheal Manyin Jawong's (a Bidayuh from PBB) post for example is of less importance than Wong's or Sim's position. Despite Michael Manyin being the most senior of the three.

In any case he argued that not all Chinese supported SUPP, as many also supported DAP, SPDP, UPP and PKR.

So when it comes to it, he added, the matter must be looked at in the wider scale and not just focusing on SUPP alone.

SUPP did not do as well as other parties

Awang Azman argued that while the appointment as DCM will only satisfy those who wanted to rise in station, other issues pertaining to the Chinese community has already been taken care of by Adenan.

"Chinese welfare has already been looked after by Adenan like the UEC issue, recognising that Chinese are not 'pendatang', allocations for Chinese schools and others," he said, adding that the CM has the upper hand in this matter compared to even parties which represent the Chinese.

"High time to end the talking, but let's begin to walk the talk," he said.

Awang Azman added that when compared in terms of performance in the state polls, SUPP did not do as well as other parties like PRS.

SUPP only won seven out of the 13 seats contested, while PRS won all 11 seats. PBB too won all 40 seats. As such it is more logical to reward the performers.

But in the end, he reminded that all that appointments to the Sarawak cabinet are the CM's prerogative and any interference by Putrajaya will only disturb the relationship between Petrajaya and the federal capital and cause discontent among Sarawakians.

What is more important at the moment for Putrajaya, the academician said, is to look to national issues it is currently embroiled in.

-Mkini