WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, ANWAR ‘WHINES’ ON – BUT EXACTLY WHAT IS PKR UNHAPPY ABOUT, WHY NOT JUST SAY IT? WHAT PORTFOLIOS & HOW MANY CABINET POSTS DOES PKR WANT – DID OLD FOX MAHATHIR PLAYED THEM OUT?

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim says he has relayed his party’s concerns over negotiations to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the latter’s visit to the Cheras rehabilitation centre yesterday.

“In that meeting, I reiterated PKR’s strong support towards Mahathir’s leadership. I also relayed the concerns of leaders who asked that negotiation methods be more inclusive.

“This view was well received by Mahathir, but must be decided on by the Pakatan Harapan presidential council,” Anwar said in a statement today.

Yesterday, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli claimed the prime minister had bulldozed the announcement of three ministers without consulting PKR.

However, sources from other Harapan component parties said that PKR representatives had left a meeting with Mahathir and top coalition leaders to discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, Anwar said he also told PKR leaders to ensure that the Harapan government under Mahathir and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is strong, solid and capable of fulfilling its duties.

“I urge all my comrades to accept the people’s mandate so they can immediately carry out their duties to save and rebuild this country,” he said.

Anwar is expected to be released from incarceration on Tuesday, after Mahathir sought a royal pardon for him from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. – M’kini

APPOINT CABINET MEMBERS BASED ON MERITS, NOT PARTY QUOTA: CENBET (UPDATED)

PETALING JAYA: The Centre For A Better Tomorrow (CenBet) has congratulated the new Pakatan Harapan government, led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on taking office.

“As an advocacy group for moderation and good governance, we hope the new administration will keep to its electoral pledges of nipping extremism and graft in the bud.

“In recent years, moderation and good governance had taken a backseat, resulting in pent-up public anger that led to the previous federal government being voted out on May 9. We believe that moderation and good governance are the twin foundations upon which this country is built, and chipping away at these values threatens to undermine this country,” it said in a statement.

CenBet said the filling up of Cabinet positions and other key posts is one of the first things incoming governments do.

“It is imperative that the new administration makes appointments based on merits, not political considerations, such as party quota. Merits-based appointments are part of good governance which we advocate.

“Those appointed need to be honest, trustworthy, beyond reproach and have an impeccable track-record. Whether as ministers, senior bureaucrats or heads of GLCs, these people are holders of public trust and should not treat the appointments as a vehicle for personal interests. This is to ensure professionalism in public service and GLCs,” read the statement.

CenBet said the government also needs to not just follow through on its “First 100 Days” pledge of reviewing any suspicious and questionable decisions from the previous administration.

It also has to put in place a stringent system with strong oversight to ensure minimal leakages on matters like government procurement.

“The new government needs to live up to public expectations of a clean and efficient administration. In this respect, having an independent MACC answerable to Parliament will help.”

As for moderation, Cenbet said the new administration needs to display zero-tolerance on any attempts to stoke divisive racial and religious sentiments for political motives.

“For far too long, agent provocateurs had been creating rifts in our society with impunity. The government should immediately rein in, and if necessary throw the book at any individuals or groups out to unravel the fabric of this plural society, even if they are part of the ruling coalition,” it added. – – Sundaily

MKINI / SUNDAILY