SHAH ALAM: Who will be the next Home and Defence Ministers? DS Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the 10th Prime Minister on November 24. His next task is of course to form the cabinet from the unity government made of the coalition parties – PH, BN, GPS and others.
As the parliament is to convene on December 19 to discuss – among others the confidence vote and mini budget – it is likely Anwar will spend the next two weeks or so to fill up his Cabinet. While Anwar has stated that the Cabinet will be filled with technocrats, it is likely the national security portfolios – home and defence – will be handed to rank-and-file politicians.
From the coalition parties, there are at least four former defence ministers – Mohamad Sabu, Ismail Sabri, Hishammuddin Hussein and Zahid Hamidi. As Zahid has to defend himself in a CBT trial, he can be ruled out from contention. Hishammuddin who was also adamant in not wanting to support PH to become the government, can also be ruled out. Ismail being the PM9 is also unlikely to return to his former job.
Apart from the ministers, two current MPs – Liew Chin Tong and Shafie Afdal – are also former deputy defence ministers and could also be seen as candidates for Jalan Padang Tembak. Malaysian Defence is against Chin Tong though, for his defence of Mat Sabu’s former political secretary prior to his appointment to the post.
The political secretary was later charged with graft. Current Google search has not shown what happened to the case but I was told that he was found guilty and fined. This should also rule out Mat Sabu’s return to Jalan Padang Tembak.
Being a Sabahan and the Semporna MP, Shafie fit my suggestion earlier for a Sabahan or Sarawakian to be chosen for the national security portfolio. However, at 66, Malaysian Defence finds him unsuitable for the job. That said PM10 might think otherwise.
As for the Home minister post, Malaysian Defence is stumped. There are too many candidates in the coalition to choose from. Both Hishammuddin and Zahid were former Home Ministers but again their candidacy and even selection are doubtful for reasons I mentioned above.
So as usual my guess is as good as yours.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (40)
Overall I kinda fancy Liew Chin Tong as menhan. He's academic like thought processes & opening up conversation about defense posture to the public is pretty much appreciated. But I doubt he get it as defense minister post is a senior position one usually reserved for senior members of a party.
Shafie isn't a bad choice per say. he's from east Sabah and east Sabah is one of the country concerns and most of our fixes on the east Sabah font is enacted through a KL lenses rather than the local perspective.
Thank God for the King. The only adult in all this who managed to sort of the mess. Will the Defence White Paper now be revived?
There is no need to revive it, its basically an official document until 2030. The problem with the DWP is there is no money tied to it so the government can technically ignore it
Well we will end up with the like of Khaled Nordin..If we are lucky maybe Ismail Sabri again.LoL
Zaft - ''I kinda fancy Liew Chin Tong as menhan.''
I don't know if I '' kinda fancy Liew Chin Tong as menhan'' but he did say stuff which should have been said : the need to review the vendor system; the need for Jointness; the need to have a look at the army's tooth to tail ratio and whether there is a right balance between combat and supporting arms; the need for the RMAF and RMN to gain priority; etc.
Ultimately we can have Buzz Lightyear as the Defence Minister but what is overall policy? How much of a priority is defence for the PM and cabinet? Will the PM come under pressure from the local industry to stay the course?
Shafie Apdal barely dodged a huge graft case involving RM1.5 billion.
http://www.bharian.com.my/berita/kes/2017/10/339603/terkini-shafie-apdal-ditahan-sprm
Yes, I know about that. But since the case has already been decided, it's a matter of record
I hope the Unity Government would nominate Mej Jen (R) Dato Hj Mohd Khlir from PN (MP Ketereh), as the new MenHan.
Let the right person be in the right place.
PN has stated today that they will not be part of the unity government. So its unlikely any MP from the coalition will be chosen as minister
Marhalim, sorry but it appear uncharacteristic of you to be so vocal directly on who should or should not be on the jobs. I wonder what has changed your stance if I may ask.
As for Zahid, he will not settle for ciku jobs, his eyes are at the very near top position as the kingmaker of Anwar. Court case? Many expects it would be gone soon now that PH won the arm twisting.
Menhan? LGE kot haha! I expect his court case will also disappear soon enough, again.
Nothing changed, really. Just tired of writing I told you so stories, already. And I did say it was not a good idea for Hishammudin to return to ministry when Ismail Sabri took over from Muhyiddin.
At least PN has their stand and they were consistent with it. BN and PH on the other hand.... I can see why the middle ground Malays had abandoned both parties.
the Malaysia DWP is like what it said it just a paper with no timeline or monetary commitments unlike AUS version
typical malaysia style copy the front page but skipped what the fundamental parts