New Cabinet line-up uninspiring, says Johari
27 Aug 2021
By Ilona Andrew
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the new Cabinet line-up announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri today was "uninspiring" as he was hoping for a bipartisan cabinet.
The MP for Titiwangsa also mentioned that he was anticipating fresh young faces to inject in the cabinet to inject more energy and enthusiasm.
With the new line-up announced, he said Ismail Sabri cannot "honeymoon period" as grave mistakes by the previous government have led to soaring Covid-19 cases with nationwide infections breaching the 1.5 million mark.
To date, more than 14,000 people have died, he added.
"Unemployment has climbed from 4.5 per cent to 4.8 per cent, with 700,000 people now unemployed and 2.1 million underemployed. Another four million people in the informal sector are struggling to get back to work, and average household income has dropped by 11 per cent since 2020.
"Meanwhile, the poverty rate has increased from 5.6 per cent to 8.4 per cent. More than 100,000 small and medium enterprises have ceased to operate, and there is always news of existing investors contemplating moving out of the country due to inconsistent policies.
"Malaysia now lags behind many of its neighbouring countries, including Vietnam, which is now the biggest exporter of manufacturing products in ASEAN. In fact, our FDI is the lowest in the region," said Johari who is also the former federal minister of finance in his Twitter postings today.
According to the Umno liaison chief for federal territories, new investors are apprehensive about the political and economic direction of the country and that the Government must engage multinational companies as well as foreign and local investors to ensure their needs and concerns are properly addressed.
"Implement a targeted comprehensive income assistance plan for those who have been greatly affected by lockdown policies, especially the B40 segment of the population. We must help put food on their tables.
"The Government must show urgency in addressing the economic and health issues facing the nation," Johari was quoted as saying.
Earlier today, Ismail Sabri has announced the government's new Cabinet line-up, retaining almost all from the previous Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, including Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali as Senior International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as Senior Defence Minister, and Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin as Senior Education Minister.
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