SHAH ALAM - The race to fill Cabinet's vacant Economy Minister post remains entangled in coalition politics and a shrinking pool of candidates, with much of the uncertainty centred on the next move of Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, political analysts say.
Political analyst Associate Prof Dr Syaza Shukri from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said that despite Tengku Zafrul's name being floated, he would need to contest and win a by-election first.
"The name that has been thrown is, of course, maybe Tengku Zafrul but then he needs to win a by-election. But at least it would be from within PKR," she told Sinar Daily.
Syaza also stated that while other names such as Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari have been mentioned, any such move would trigger new political balancing acts.
"Maybe Amirudin, but he may need to let go of the MB-ship, which is another thing altogether," she said.
She stated that bringing in an Umno leader such as Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani could disrupt party equilibrium within the ruling coalition.
"If we consider an Umno leader like Johari, it would disrupt the party balance. The best, I think, is to consolidate the ministry with another ministry,” Syaza said.
For now, Syaza said it remains a 'wait and see' situation.
According to O2 Research Head Anis Anwar, the challenge lies in managing expertise, coalition harmony and the risk of factional battles so late in the government’s term.
"The fifteenth Parliament is already nearing its end. Bringing in a non-partisan technocrat can serve as a strategic buffer, preventing any risk of party infighting or coalition disputes during the caretaker phases ahead of GE16," he said.
The soon-to-be-tabled 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13) adds another layer of urgency, with continuity being vital to maintaining public confidence.
"Markets and ordinary citizens alike expect the next minister to safeguard key policies already outlined in RMK-13, including subsidy rationalisation, EPF reform and labour-market modernisation," Anis said.
Beyond expertise and policy continuity, Anis said the ability to communicate with the public effectively will be crucial.
Following Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli’s high-profile departure, Anis said the importance of appointing a minister who can clearly articulate complex economic reforms.
"Media-savvy communication skills are also crucial, as the public needs clear explanations of complex reforms to restore trust after Rafizi’s high-profile departure," Anis said.
Anis stressed the importance of securing cross-faction acceptability within PKR and the broader Pakatan Harapan coalition.
"Failing to address internal tensions now could jeopardise the government’s unity ahead of 16th General Election (GE16)," Anis added.