LANGKAWI 08/05/18:Candidate for langkawi Parliament Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad addressing his last message to the supporters before the General Election Voting period here at Ho Peng Hall, Kuah. PICTURE BY SAYUTI ZAINUDIN
PKR leaders did not turn up at the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting yesterday to decide on cabinet positions, according to sources from several component parties.
This meeting was a follow-up to a meeting of four party leaders on Friday (photo), in which the cabinet list was discussed.
But as further consultation was needed, a presidential council meeting was scheduled for the following day, with each party being required to send a delegation of five representatives.
Following the meeting, Mahathir had on Saturday afternoon announced three cabinet positions – for defence, finance and home affairs ministries – alongside Amanah and DAP leaders, but without any PKR leaders present.
A source said three PKR leaders were initially present for the meeting, but left before it started. The meeting then proceeded – approximately from 9am until 3pm – without PKR representation.
Therefore, sources said accusations by PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had “bulldozed” through with the appointments were invalid.
“The allegations that there was no consultation does not arise,” DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke told Malaysiakini. Sources from other parties, who did not want to be named, concurred with this view.
At the time of writing, Rafizi could not be reached for comments.
Dr M met Anwar
It is understood that Mahathir had met PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to discuss the cabinet list late yesterday at the Cheras Rehabilitation Centre.
Mahathir quietly left the venue. It is unsure what transpired.
Another source told Malaysiakini that Mahathir was in a rush against time.
“He has to come up with a stable government – a cabinet – before markets open on Monday,” said the source, adding that Rafizi’s claims had complicated matters.
Mahathir, probably by design, had instituted public holidays for Thursday and Friday after the Wednesday elections, thereby stalling market volatility, said a source. – ANN
Get your act together, it is not about the spoils of victory
PETALING JAYA – The recent open squabble regarding the appointments or non-appointments to theCabinet is dissappointing and unbecoming, says former Bar Council president Christopher Leong.
“It is disrespectful to the substantial number of Malaysians who had turned out in unprecedented numbers to effect change for a better Malaysia,” he explained in a statement Saturday.
“Please bear in mind that the present and future of Malaysia is not about your political party, it is certainly not about your opinion as to your entitlement to distribution of the spoils of victory.
“Do please remember that at this juncture in the historic moment of our nation it is about creating a better tomorrow for all of us,” he added.
“The victory at the polls in GE 14 does not belong to you, it belongs to us the rakyat.
“So stop the bickering and get down to governance, deliverance and excellence. Get your act together,”he said.
Earlier on Saturday, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan openly slammed PKR’s Rafizi Ramli after he said newly-minted Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had “bulldozed” his way through the appointments of three Cabinet members from DAP, Parti Amanah Negara and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng was appointed Finance Minister; Amanah president Mohamad Sabu was made Defence Minister; and Prbumi president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin got the Home Minister role.
“Stop this nonsense,” the former Bar president tweeted together with an attachment of the online article that quoted Rafizi.
Rafizi also issued a statement saying the current Cabinet line-up was only tentative and far from complete, and that any decision must have the full consensus of all component party members. – – ANN
AFTER SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH, WONG CHEN SUPPORTS RAFIZI ON CABINET POSTS
PETALING JAYA – Rafizi Ramli’s concerns on Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s new cabinet line-up are warranted as these decisions were made without consulting PKR, says his fellow party vice president Wong Chen (pic).
Wong said it is perplexing that PKR has not been offered any Cabinet positions yet, since it is the single largest party in Pakatan Harapan.
He pointed out that the party has 48 federal seats, while DAP has 42, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has 13 and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) has 11.
“Nothing yet for PKR, the single largest party in Pakatan Harapan? So what did Rafizi do that is wrong in the eyes of the public?
Wong’s defence came shortly after Ambiga Sreevenasan tweeted “PKR, please stop your nonsense”.
The former Bersih 2.0 chairman was referring to a report in a news portal quoting Rafizi as saying Dr Mahathir had “bulldozed” those appointments through without PKR’s consent.
Earlier on Saturday, the Prime Minister and Pakatan chairman had announced three of the 10 ministers that were supposed to have been unveiled after the coalition’s presidential council meeting.
They were Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Home Minister, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as Finance Minister, and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu as Defence Minister.
The other seven ministers that have yet to be named are Economy, Education, Multimedia Science and Technology; Rural Development, Public Works, Transport and Foreign.
Rafizi, who was criticised on social media, also issued a statement saying that he assumed those Cabinet positions were not final.
“Any decision regarding any appointments must be agreed in consensus with all four parties within Pakatan Harapan,” he said in a statement issued in his blog.
According to Wong, Rafizi does not want to see the Pakatan-led government by Dr Mahathir to start on the wrong footing.
“And as such he dared to tegur (chide) Dr Mahathir’s announcement, and for this, he is vilified by most of you.
“It is precisely this unhealthy attitude of Malaysians, never (wanting) to question authority … Rafizi worked tirelessly for two years with Invoke to bring about meaningful change,” he said, referring to Rafizi’s non-governmental organisation.
“I am proud to be his friend and I will continue to support Rafizi in his quest to create a two-party system for Malaysia.” ANN
MKINI / ANN
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