Ahmad Maslan: Cabinet selection should be based on party hierarchy

By NOR AZURA MD AMIN

27 Nov 2022 02:30pm

Ahmad Maslan said, before the Unity Government Cabinet is announced, Ahmad Zahid and Mohamad Hasan need to be involved in the appointment negotiations.

Umno secretary-general, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan's press conference.

PONTIAN - The selection of new Cabinet members should be based on the structure and hierarchy of the party that supports the Unity Government coalition.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said that before the Unity Government's cabinet list was announced, Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) top leaders Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan should be involved in negotiating the appointments.

"I understand that during the cabinet formation of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the Umno president and vice president were not consulted.

"So the appointed cabinet members by Muhyiddin did not follow the party hierarchy. That's what happened when Muhyiddin became the Prime Minister

"I hope that this time, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim consults with the party leadership, especially with the party president, who represents the voice of the party and not other people becoming the voice of party. This will prove good for all parties," he said.

Maslan who is also the Pontian MP, said this at a press conference after a dialogue and briefing session with the grassroots in Benut on Sunday.

On Thursday, Sinar Harian reported that the post of Deputy Prime Minister is expected to be given to the other strongest bloc in the unity government, namely BN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it was a common practice in every government.

Asked whether Umno or BN had proposed a specific name to fill the post of Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmad said the matter would be determined by the party leadership.

"About the cabinet, whose name will be chosen, the breakdown of numbers of each party or whether the negotiations are over, I don't interfere.

" We leave it to the party leadership to make choices from their respective parties," he said.

Commenting on when the cabinet list of the Unity Government will be ready, Ahmad said it was expected to be announced next week.

"It is expected to be announced soon, The exact date I don't know.

"As for my name, proposed as a member of the cabinet, I will leave it to the wisdom of the Umno and BN leaders," he said.