Muhyiddin's cabinet does not reflect PN's en bloc spirit - Shahrir

Johor Bahru Umno chief Shahrir Samad has pointed out that the en bloc spirit of Perikatan Nasional (PN) was not reflected in the cabinet line-up of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Taking to Facebook, the veteran leader said the PN en bloc spirit succeded in choosing Muhyiddin until he was appointed by the palace.

"But when it comes to the appointment of cabinet members, it is as though the en bloc spirit has disappeared," said Shahrir.

"The cabinet portfolio was not decided through negotiation but via the discretion of the prime minister who rose to the premiership with the support of BN and PAS," he said.

Shahrir claimed that the new government was not led by Umno/BN and Muafakat Nasional, but administrated by Bersatu with the help of Azmin Ali's gang from PKR.

He also questioned why Sabah was left out by Muhyiddin (photo).

"If (Sabah Umno chief) Bung Moktar Radin could not be appointed due to his ongoing trial, at least Mohamad (Alamin) who won in the Kimanis by-election should be qualified as the deputy minister," said Shahrir.

"That's my concern. It is better for us to wait and see. The new government is Muhyiddin's government," he said.

Yesterday, BN's Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Mohd Nor had spoken out over the appointments, saying that the PN government seemed to have sidelined the voice of the Orang Asli in the peninsular. 

"Just look at how many from MCA and Bersatu were appointed as senators and ministers. It seems like appointing an Orang Asli representative is a burden to them," he said.

Bung, the Kinabatangan MP, had also lamented that Sabah Umno was not represented in the cabinet and criticised Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz's statement that there will not be political interference with him as the new finance minister. 

Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said said the coalition government should be based on proportionate representation and not dominated by any one party. 

Bintulu MP and Progressive Democratic Party president Tiong King Sing went one step further and rejected the offered post of deputy national unity minister, according to his party secretary-general Nelson Balang Rining, who said of Muhyiddin's appointment: “The post does not befit his position as president of the party."  

- Mkini