Talk of a cabinet reshuffle has re-emerged following the conclusion of the DAP election last week.
Former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming noted that there will be an opportunity for DAP to change its ministers and deputy ministers in December when the Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz completes his tenure as a senator.
This comes despite DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke stressing that the outcome of the party’s central executive committee (CEC) election has no bearing on the positions of the party’s ministers or deputy ministers.
When asked about this during an interview with Malaysiakini’s Chinese-language podcast, Ong said that if DAP follows through with the “generational change” theme of its party election, it may replace M Kulasegaran and Lim Hui Ying in their government roles.
Kulasegaran, the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (law and institutional reform), opted not to contest in the party polls to make way for younger leaders.
The Ipoh Barat MP previously served as the human resources minister in the Pakatan Harapan administration under former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad from May 2018 until the collapse of the federal government in February 2020.
Meanwhile, Lim, who is deputy finance minister and Tanjong MP, lost her CEC post in the party polls on March 16.
High standards
Ong said Lim hasn’t proven her capability as a leader to the public.
“After the party polls, it is clear that if Lim wants to continue as an MP, a deputy minister, or even advance to a ministerial role, she must prove to the party leaders, members, and the public that she has the capability to do so,” he told the podcast, which was released last Saturday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Commenting further, Ong said that as a former deputy minister, he understands the standard expected of DAP ministers and deputy ministers.
“We need to maintain a certain standard.
“So if certain leaders have yet to meet that standard – and they all know it – those in Parliament are well aware of who is performing and who isn’t,” he added.
Zafrul opts out of by-election
Another key member of the Madani government, PKR, will also hold its internal polls in May.
If there are changes to PKR’s leadership structure after that election, the party may also replace some of its ministers and deputy ministers.
During a BFM radio interview on March 3, Zafrul confirmed that he would step down as a minister in mid-December and ruled out any possibility of a by-election to facilitate his return to Parliament and the cabinet.
“I will not take up such an offer. The people would not want a by-election just for someone like me at my level.
“I am not a very senior politician or someone very senior in any party,” he said, adding that a by-election would cost significant government resources and time.
He stated that he would “rather contribute in other ways” over the next two years and wait for the next general election.
Zafrul was first appointed as a senator under the Perikatan Nasional administration on March 10, 2020 and began his second term on December 3, 2022.
A senator can serve a maximum of two terms, with each term lasting three years, making the total possible tenure six years.
On March 12, Zafrul met Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to discuss his intention to leave the party for PKR. The following day, he stated that his focus was no longer on joining PKR but on returning to work. - Mkini
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