THE new federal cabinet ministers, featuring both experienced hands as well as new faces, have their work cut out for them. Some ministers got new portfolios, but they come with inherited issues. The New Straits Times breaks down the challenges these ministers face.
DATUK SERI JOHARI ABDUL GHANI (Plantation and Commodities Minister) Johari marks his return to the cabinet with a key ministry in need of creative ideas. The most pressing issue the plantation sector is facing for the third year is the workers’ shortage due to hiring restrictions sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic. With reduced workers, analysts expected the palm oil output to decline or maintain this year. In April, the government, through the National Security Council, began studying the possibility of allowing refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia to work temporarily in the plantation sector to overcome the labour shortage. Johari acknowledged the challenges and said they would require “out of the box thinking”. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
GOBIND SINGH DEO Digital Minister Gobind’s homecoming of sorts to the ministry will be marked by a number of important tasks he has on the horizon. Gobind, who was communications and multimedia minister during Pakatan Harapan’s administration in 2018, will shoulder the responsibility of spearheading the growth of Malaysia’s digital economy, which is targeted to contribute to a quarter of the nation’s gross domestic product by 2025. He will oversee the government’s ambition of having a dual network 5G model, seen as crucial to realising Malaysia’s ambitions for the digital economy. This will be achieved through Digital Nasional Bhd, which has been tasked with the rollout of the 5G network to 80 per cent of populated areas in the country. Also on his plate is the smooth implementation of the National Digital Identity initiative, with an initial target of 1.6 million users, mostly civil servants. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
DATUK SERI AMIR HAMZAH AZIZAN Finance Minister II Observers have likened the appointment of the Employees Provident Fund chief executive officer to that of former finance minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, a technocrat who can provide a fresh perspective on the financial landscape. Experts believe Amir Hamzah’s appointment signalled a potential shift in the distribution of responsibilities within the Finance Ministry, with Amir Hamzah taking a more prominent role in handling physical and fiscal policies. Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said it was likely that physical policies will fall under Amir Hamzah’s purview. He said this could see Amir Hamzah take on more responsibilities from Anwar, who is finance minister, on finance, fiscal, monetary and economic issues. Observers also believe the appointment was a bid to enhance administrative efficiency, which could boost investor confidence and strengthen the cabinet’s economic recovery efforts. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
DATUK SERI FADILLAH YUSOF Energy Transition and Public Utilities Minister and Minister in charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs Fadillah will continue to wear two hats as minister and deputy prime minister. Renewable energy, which comes under his ministry, is expected to be among his top concerns as Malaysia strives to achieve its renewable energy goals. For Sabah and Sarawak affairs, Fadillah is expected to prioritise resolving outstanding issues, honouring the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and closing the economic and social gap between Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
STEVEN SIM Human Resources Minister Sim, who is taking over from V. Sivakumar, has a tough road ahead. The Human Resources Ministry has a slew of issues under its purview, including resolving the labour shortage in industries and addressing the skills mismatch issue among graduates. Sim has to tackle Malaysia’s thorny labour agreement woes with Bangladesh after objections were raised by Bangladeshi recruitment agencies over why only 25 companies were granted approvals to handle recruitment. He is also inheriting the Human Resource Development Fund issue. He will have to address allegations of impropriety involving the standard operating procedures for the appointment of training companies. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
DATUK SERI DR ZAMBRY ABDUL KADIR Higher Education Minister Zambry, who was foreign minister, faces a new task of spearheading Malaysia’s tertiary education system, which has over the years been plagued by problems. Among them is the growing reluctance among secondary school graduates to pursue tertiary education, preferring to go straight into the workforce. Zambry will also have to tackle criticism over the lack of cohesion in higher education policies. There are at least six acts dealing with the establishment and management of higher education institutions. Coordinating the ministry’s role in the development of higher education will be Zambry’s key challenge. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
DATUK SERI MOHAMED KHALED NORDIN Defence Minister Among the immediate issues Khaled will have to tackle is the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT), especially over its holdings in diversified group Boustead Holdings Bhd. Khaled’s predecessor, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, had said Boustead’s restructuring was crucial to reducing LTAT’s dependence on its income. Boustead was privatised by LTAT earlier this year due to financial constraints the company faced. Khaled will also have to address the littoral combat ship project, which came under fire due to the revelation last year that none of the vessels had been completed despite Putrajaya having forked out RM6.08 billion. The Public Accounts Committee, during the recent Parliament sitting, said the fifth vessel was set to be completed by 2029. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
DR ZALIHA MUSTAFA Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha’s chief role will be getting the ministry’s gears in motion, a year after it was downgraded to the Federal Territories Department. Apart from furthering the development of the Federal Territories, she also has the formidable task of ensuring the civil service remains in line with the government’s aspirations. As the first federal territories minister since Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Dr Zaliha will have a steep learning curve to get the ministry going again. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
DATUK SERI MOHAMAD HASAN Foreign minister The Umno No. 2, better known as Tok Mat, will have to rely on the full range of his experience as former defence minister to shape Malaysia’s image and chart its path on the world stage. Given Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s strong stand on Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, Mohamad is expected to play a major role in leading Malaysia’s efforts to highlight the issue on the global stage. Another major task will be managing Malaysia’s role in Asean and how the country can regain its voice as a leader in the bloc, especially as Malaysia will be Asean chair in 2025. His experience as defence minister during the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting that discussed a comprehensive code of conduct in the South China Sea will be vital. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
DATUK SERI DR DZULKEFLY AHMAD Health Minister Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Dr Dzulkefly’s experience was vital to strengthen the Health Ministry, which is burdened with many issues, some inherited. Chief among those challenges is the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023. The removal of the Generational Endgame provision was widely criticised. Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said Dr Dzulkefly must also address four issues — sustainable healthcare financing, the non-communicable diseases crisis, closing the mental health gap and lack of preparedness to care for an ageing population. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
DATUK ARMIZAN MOHD ALI Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Cost of living, the chief concern of the majority of Malaysians, will be the top issue that Armizan will have to tackle. After Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub’s death earlier this year, Armizan has been continuing his predecessor’s work, including expanding the Rahmah initiatives aimed at helping Malaysians deal with the rising cost of goods. Continuous engagement with the production and retail sectors, as well as effective communication with the public on the ministry’s initiatives, will make the difference on whether the initiatives succeed. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
