Ministers not up to the job should just go

 

Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof must have got wind of a cabinet reshuffle but as a seasoned minister, he knows his place and will not say more than necessary when cornered with an uncomfortable poser by the media.

Assuming Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has shared something on the cabinet reshuffle with him since he is one of his two deputies, Fadillah was right to state that any reshuffle was the prime minister’s call.

“I have not heard anything about it. There is no discussion about that. That is the sole prerogative of the prime minister,” he told Bernama when asked about talks of an imminent cabinet reshuffle.

Still, there is really nothing extraordinary about a cabinet reshuffle as that has been carried out whenever a sitting prime minister feels it is necessary to do so.

It is now six months since Anwar formed his first cabinet and the general feeling is that the prime minister should seriously review the performances of his ministers.

This essentially means one thing - get rid of the non-performers and deadwood in the cabinet. Keep those who know their job and who are prepared to work tirelessly in the interest of the people and nation.

If there is any reason why an imminent reshuffle is shrouded in such secrecy for now, it is because Anwar is not yet ready to rock the boat that is his fragile coalition.

Asking some ministers to leave when they were recommended by their party bosses earlier to join the cabinet may antagonise his allies.

Pack your bags and go

Anwar probably believes in buying time to consolidate his position and make everyone feel comfortable with his leadership style before he would want to go down the drastic route against non-performers in the cabinet.

That could be construed as a cowardly position taken by the prime minister and this could cause a dip in his support rating from the public.

Many feel that the honeymoon for the ministers should be over in six months. Either you know your job, or you don’t. Ministers not up to the job should voluntarily pack their bags and go.

Easier said than done, of course. If only there are ministers who are prepared to acknowledge their limitations and quietly resign, it would have made Anwar’s job easier.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

But we know how difficult it is for anyone, let alone a minister, to concede that you cannot perform well in a job.

Admitting that you can't perform in a job may feel like acknowledging that you're not capable or competent enough, which can be challenging for your self-esteem.

Making a concession challenges your self-perception and may feel like a blow to your ego. So, this is a “no-no” for most politicians. It’s too much to expect them to lower themselves; most just cannot do it.

Non-performers

So, who are the non-performers in Anwar’s cabinet? Should any of them be relieved of their duties?

I don’t think it’s fair to name names, but many should know who are those who have done well and those who were mere passengers groping in the dark.

The most frequent public complaint targeted PKR ministers as among the worst non-performers. Second, came the DAP. Umno ministers in general received little complaint as most are seasoned cabinet members.

I’ve also heard this remark, tinged with sarcasm but not altogether untrue: “Among the PKR ministers, only Anwar himself is working. Don’t know what the rest are doing!”

Last week, I wrote about the difficulty faced by a Sarawak minister in setting up a meeting with a federal minister. A former minister reacted to the article, writing to me that “it’s easier to see the prime minister than any of the ministers”.

“I tried to meet several ministers over the past three months but I’ve not been able to meet anyone”, he lamented.

Coming from a former minister, there is no reason to think it is not true that some ministers are now getting too much over the top, much too big even for their own good.

A minister has now allegedly been put in cold storage until such time when his boss will decide on his fate, most probably with a cabinet reshuffle.

PM knows best

I want to believe that eventually, the prime minister knows best how to deal with his wayward ministers. I would expect Anwar to use the stick if need be and this means removing them from the cabinet.

Indeed, in a democratic society, public trust in the government and its officials is crucial. If a minister is perceived as incapable or ineffective, it can erode public trust in the entire government and undermine the faith citizens have in their elected representatives.

Resigning can help maintain public trust by signalling a commitment to high standards of competence and accountability.

I remain hopeful that in the Madani spirit, there will be some ministers who would voluntarily go if they know that they are just not up for the job.

Seriously, there is no shame but only respect and adulation for a minister who acknowledges his/her weaknesses and failings. - Mkini

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.