IT’S certainly not a perfect list of Cabinet line-up. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim just has been pulled from all sides, including by some powerful figures, who insisted on their choice of representatives in Cabinet.
The Prime Minister took a longer time than expected to finalise his list as party members and partners in his new Unity Government bombarded his phone with messages and suggestions.
There were endless meetings with stakeholders which dragged late into the night as the deadline approached.
Even his 3pm press conference to announce the list had to be postponed until 8.15pm and even that began late.
The PM had to honour his pledge for a leaner Cabinet and at the same time, balance the demands of his partners.
Although it looked like Anwar had to labour through some horse-trading and appeared to be weak, the reality is his predecessors had taken a longer time than he did.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad took 11 days to fully complete his full line-up after the GE14 in 2018, which many have forgotten.
Anwar is in a more complicated position. Despite having a two-thirds majority in Parliament, Malaysia is in uncharted waters.
Malaysia has never had a Unity Government comprising partners, which has just fought a bruising election against each other.
Many made open pledges of not wanting to work together and tore each other to bits during the recent campaign.
But now, they are in the same government, and they will most likely make strange bedfellows and would need a period of adjustment to keep the government intact.
The period of instability and uncertainties will probably cause some turbulence, but rational-minded Malaysians certainly want this government to work.
The alternative, with many hard-line theological politicians, seems unpalatable. Perhaps even dangerous to multi-racial Malaysia.
In 1969, after the race riots, the Barisan Nasional government was formed which included the then opposition PAS and Gerakan.
It was not called a Unity Government, but the new coalition government worked and functioned effectively under Tun Abdul Razak.
Fast forward to 2022, Anwar is certainly sitting on the hot seat. Besides having to face a strong Malay and religious centric opposition, PAS, with 49 Members of Parliament, will continue to throw doubt on his leadership.
Already, the Islamist party has used the narrative that the Pakatan Harapan government is dominated by the DAP.
Like it or not, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has thrown PH a lifeline for Anwar to be the PM and lead a federal government. Anwar is indebted to him as without Zahid, he wouldn’t be PM.
Zahid’s inclusion has earned the wrath of PH members but let’s not forget that he also faces the same emotional wrath from Barisan parties.
We do not live in a perfect and idealistic world. Realpolitik is the order of the day. Politicians say things they do not mean, and quoting Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli, the end justifies the means.
There has also been a lot of backlash against the inclusion of former banker Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz, who lost in the Kuala Selangor parliamentary constituency.
But this is not a new practice. Previously, political leaders who had lost in the elections have been made Senators and appointed to ministry positions.
This time, PKR’s Saifuddin Nasution, who lost in his bid for the Kulim Bandar Baharu seat, now heads the powerful Home Ministry while Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, defeated in Lumut, is now the Foreign Minister.
For some reason, Zafrul has been targeted but like former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, both are young talents that Malaysia needs.
Both unfortunately lost in the GE. Likewise, it is sad that PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar was beaten in Permatang Pauh by PAS.
But the inclusion of popular Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh is certainly welcome although she would actually be more suitable as Tourism Minister, given her personality, than Youth and Sports Minister,
Sarawakian leader Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who is Tourism Minister, will be more cut out for an economy related portfolio although it can be argued that tourism is a crucial revenue earner.
They are bright sparks in Malaysian politics that are ready to cut across the political divide and practise bipartisan politics in a mature manner.
Not many, like Zafrul, are ready to leave high-paying positions in the corporate world for politics. How many of us, who prefer to whine, are prepared to take up such a bold move?
It is important that Anwar now focuses on facing the headwinds of 2023. He has correctly put more emphasis on the economy, cost of living and food security, which will affect the people the most.
Besides the economy, the government needs to prove that it can deliver. If it does, then it does not need to focus its attention on politicians who rely on race and religion to win support.
There should be no place for the politics of revenge and vindictiveness by the new appointees. Leave the civil servants alone.
Malaysians want to see the end of corruption, a better education system, healthy economy, fairer government and one that can make Malaysians feel proud of their country again.
