New ministers sworn in as discontent brews

New ministers sworn in as discontent brews
Anwar says BN MPs ready to defect / Wan Azizah to be parliamentary Opposition Leader / Radzi quits all party posts, denies split
By: Husna Yusop (Wed, 19 Mar 2008)


KUALA LUMPUR (March 19, 2008): Malaysia swore in a new line-up of ministers today, but unhappiness over the premier's choices roiled his party's ranks and the Opposition said several ruling party MPs were ready to switch sides.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak led the 32 new ministers and their deputies in the colourful swearing-in ceremony in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's palace here, state news agency Bernama reported.

Later, the cabinet gathered for its first meeting at 0630 GMT in the administrative capital of Putrajaya.

But discontent is bubbling in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ruling party, and its parliamentary deputies are willing to defect to the opposition, in numbers sufficient to trigger a change in government, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed.

"You cannot rule out that possibility," Anwar told Reuters in an interview, when asked if the Opposition would have enough defections for a change of government.

But he refused to say how many MPs were willing to switch sides. Asked if it was more than five, he said, "Of course it's more than five" but would not say if the number exceeded 10.

Abdullah's ruling coalition, the National Front, or Barisan Nasional (BN) holds 140 seats in parliament, and the opposition has 82. The opposition needs at least 29 more to reach the half-way mark in the 222-member parliament to mount a challenge, a prospect that few analysts consider likely.

Malaysia's former home minister gave up his political party posts after he was dropped from Cabinet, but denied that the move heralded a split over growing unhappiness in the ruling party after two deputy ministers turned down their appointments.

The two who rebuffed Abdullah's offer are Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Abu Bakar (Foreign Ministry), a member of the Pahang Royalty, and Datuk Anifah Aman (Transport Ministry).

"I don't think so," Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, the former minister, said when asked if his resignation foreshadowed cracks in Umno, a key component of the BN. "I don't belong to some faction."

Several veterans were among the eight ministers Abdullah dropped in yesterday new Cabinet which aimed at shoring up his credibility after his ruling coalition suffered its worst-ever drubbing in elections on March 8.

The National Front lost its two-thirds majority in parliament and five of the 13 states to opposition parties.

In the new Cabinet, Abdullah dropped long-serving International Trade andIndustry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz but left his economic team almost intact, and gave Radzi's old job to former Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

Radzi said Abdullah had accepted his resignation from the position of secretary-general, both in Umno and BN.

"I have already been a deputy minister for two terms and I feel it's time for me to make way for a younger person to hold this post," Bernama quoted Anifah , 54, who had been named deputy minister for transport, as saying. - Reuters

Anwar says BN MPs ready to defect

KUALA LUMPUR (March 19, 2008): The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) Members of Parliament (MPs) are willing to defect to the Opposition in sufficient numbers to trigger a change of government, de facto Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said today.

"You cannot rule out that possibility," Anwar said when asked if he would have enough defections for a change of government.

"The sentiments in Sabah and Sarawak are strong with a number of people approaching us," Anwar told Reuters in an interview, referring to the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo.

He declined to say how many MPs were willing to switch sides. Asked if it was more than five, he said, "Of course, it's more than five." Asked if it was more than 10, he declined to answer.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ruling coalition suffered the biggest setback in its 50-year reign in the national elections on March 8, losing its two-thirds parliamentary majority and surrendering an unprecedented five states to opposition parties.

Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party) emerged as the largest opposition party in the new parliament, which is required by the constitution to sit no later than June, but could meet earlier if the government decides to do so. - Reuters

Wan Azizah to be parliamentary Opposition Leader
PETALING JAYA (March 19, 2008): The Opposition parties have proposed for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also Permatang Pauh MP, to be their leader in the 12th Parliament.

This is until PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim qualifies to stand for elections, the PKR information bureau said in an e-mailed press statement today.

In the 12th general election on March 8, PKR won 31 parliamentary seats, the biggest among the opposition compared with DAP (28) and PAS (23).

There are 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat and of this, 140 were won by Barisan Nasional (BN).

According to the statement jointly signed by Anwar, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, the decision was reached in a meeting today.

"We agree that the wishes of the people as manifested during the election must be respected and implemented by us and our parties.

"We agree that a stronger form of cooperation must be seriously considered, taking cognisance of the desires of the people for the formation of a new government for the Federation and the states that can bring major changes for the rakyat," they said.

Radzi quits all party posts, denies split
KUALA LUMPUR (March 19, 2008): Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, who was dropped as a Cabinet member yesterday, has resigned from all party posts but denied that the move heralded a split caused by growing unhappiness in the premier's party.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dropped several veterans from his Cabinet yesterday, in a bid to shore up credibility after his ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), or National Front, coalition suffered the worst election setback in its history on March 8.

Abdullah's Umno party is a key component of the ruling coalition, which lost its two-thirds majority in federal parliament and five of Malaysia's 13 states to opposition parties.

"When you are not made a minister, you cannot work effectively as a secretary-general for Umno," the former Home Minister said.

Asked if he had resigned over not being included in the new Cabinet, he replied: "You can take it that way."

Radzi, 66, said Abdullah had accepted his resignation with immediate effect from the position of secretary-general, both in Umno and BN, but denied that his departure signalled a split in the party.

"I don't think so," he told reporters here when asked if the move foreshadowed such cracks. "I don't belong to some faction."

In the new Cabinet, Abdullah dropped long-serving International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, left his economic team almost intact, and gave Radzi's old job to former Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar. - Reuters