Adam Adli appointment may strengthen ties with student activists - Analyst

SHAH ALAM – Ironically, as a former outspoken student leader and still relatively young, Adam Adli is seen as someone who could strengthen communication between the ministry and the increasingly active student activists, a political analyst says.

Political analyst Dr Oh Ei Sun said Adam Adli’s background as a former outspoken student leader and his relatively young age positioned him well to engage with student movements that have shown renewed activism in recent months.

“Recent protests, such as those by Universiti Malaysia Sabah students over water shortages and demonstrations by Malaysian students outside the Indonesian embassy, highlight this renewed activism,” he told Sinar Daily.

Oh added that changes involving deputy ministers are typically less controversial than replacing full ministers, making such appointments a common feature in Cabinet reshuffles.

“In the past, this portfolio was often held by the Umno Youth chief, who was usually an ambitious and sometimes radical figure. That is no longer the case.

“As a result, the government may need to keep changing ministers or deputy ministers until it finds someone capable of managing these powerful interests within the ministry,” he said, referring to the Youth and Sports Ministry.

He stated that deputy ministers are often moved across portfolios or additional appointments are made to accommodate political considerations.

“For example, the appointment of Lo Su Fui from Sabah gives the United Sabah Party (PBS), which has only one MP, a position within the federal executive,” he said.

On changes involving the religious affairs ministry, Oh said they appeared to be part of a wider reshuffling exercise, although the specific reason for the replacement was unclear.

He also said Datuk Seri R. Ramanan’s elevation to a ministerial role was expected, given his position as a vice president of PKR and the historical pattern of the Human Resources portfolio being held by either a Chinese or Indian minister.

“In this case, it has returned to an Indian representative, which fits that pattern,” he said.

Commenting on the appointment of Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad as Plantation and Commodities Minister, he said it reflected Umno’s tradition of placing senior women leaders in Cabinet roles.

“This is consistent with past figures such as Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, who played a prominent role in similar portfolios,” he said.

He also addressed public comments regarding the perceived dominance of DAP in Cabinet positions.

“As for DAP’s presence, it holds the largest number of seats among the Madani coalition parties, so it is only natural for the party to have ministers and deputy ministers across many portfolios,” he said.

Oh also stressed that the Cabinet reshuffle should not be read as a shift in policy direction.

“It is largely about filling vacant portfolios, some of which should have been settled months ago. That said, this Cabinet is likely to be the final one before the next general election,” he said.

Sharing a similar view, political analyst Associate Professor Dr Syaza Shukri said Adam Adli’s move to higher education should be seen as a strategic step rather than a downgrade.

“I think it has more to do with strengthening higher education with perspective from a younger MP. He wouldn’t be put in that position if he were inefficient.

“And the way I see it is that the deputy positions allow for more ‘training ground’ and so it is more flexible than a full minister, who should be allowed time to see through policies,” she said.

Syaza said she was unsure whether changes involving the Youth and Sports Ministry were directly linked to the Football Association of Malaysia issue.

“If they were problematic, I don’t think they would go to these positions,” she said.

She also commented on the previous religious affairs minister, saying concerns were more about performance than controversy.

“The suggestion of dos and don'ts for Muslims. So yes, it is about his performance,” she said.

Dr Syaza added that deputy changes were sometimes unavoidable when former deputies were promoted to full ministerial roles.

“Of course, we expect the reshuffle would improve the government and at least close the loopholes left by ministers resigning.

“So now it’s back at full force. But I think there’s disappointment with education not changing,” she said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the Cabinet reshuffle earlier today.

The full list of the new Cabinet members can be found here.