By Prof. Dr. Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani

March 9, 2020 is a historical day in the country as PM Muhyiddin will announce his cabinet line-up. In his list are both politicians and technocrats as desired by the people. For the first time in the country's history, the deputy PM's post is vacant. In its stead, we have four senior ministers helming key ministerial positions that will take the country towards greater stability and progress in the years ahead. Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang are both excluded from the line-up while the PM himself is not holding any ministerial position as in the government immediately before his. Senior ministers have been assigned to the portfolios of international trade and industry, defense, works and education. Several ministries have been created, including the reintroduction of the higher education ministry, alongside new portfolios of environment, national unity and a minister in the PM's department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs.

According to Muhyiddin, these new ministries have been created to stabilize the country's administration in view of the importance of promoting higher education, environment preservation, interracial harmony as well as the objectives of the Malaysian contract of 1963 with regard to East Malaysia are fulfilled.

Notably, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz from CIMB has been appointed finance minister while former Federal Territory mufti Datuk Seri Dr Hj. Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri the minister in the PM's department in charge of religious affairs. It is obvious that the prime minister wants the most qualified people and not just politicians to helm these two important portfolios. On top of that, there have not been major surprises for leaders who were holding positions in previous cabinets, save for PAS which has been offered three ministerial positions, namely environment, plantation industries and commodities, as well as a minister in the PM's department in charge of parliamentary and legal affairs.

Apparently the new cabinet has been named taking into consideration the voices of the people who want to see a clean cabinet. Malaysians also want to see the inclusion of more professionals and technocrats in the government as practiced in Indonesia and the United States. In Italy, a renowned economist Mario Monti was made prime minister from 2011 to 2013, while former ECB vice president Lucas Papademos became the Greek prime minister from 2011 to 2012. Both are all technocrats that successfully took their respective countries out of economic crisis.

Muhyiddin is now adopting the similar approach by putting a technocrat in the finance portfolio to address the country's economic woes. However, the number of technocrats and academics admitted into the cabinet is still insufficient and more should be made senators and recruited into Muhyiddin's cabinet.

It is unconventional to do away with the position of deputy PM even though it is not unconstitutional or uncommon not to appoint a DPM. For instance, Canada did not have a DPM from 2006 to 2019, while UK did not have one at one point. As a matter of fact, the DPM post is not that important in the Westminster system of parliament. So, it is not unusual not to name a DPM at all, whose role is now taken over by four senior ministers who will assist the PM in his absence.

As an academic, I would like to congratulate higher education minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad who has a PhD from UUM. I am sure she is more than capable to help lift the country's higher education standard to a new level and turn the country into the veritable hub of higher learning in Asia in near future.

Generally speaking, the new cabinet is perceived to be one that will bring the country to a higher level of governance integrity in future besides addressing the many problems faced by the country, especially on the socioeconomic aspect. To a certain degree Malaysians can have a sigh of relief with the announcement of the new cabinet line-up, but more importantly the new cabinet must prioritize the well-being of the rakyat and not the political interests of individual leaders. If the new cabinet will bring prosperity to the people, it will significantly boost the continued rule of PM Muhyiddin who will lead the PN's campaign come the 15th general elections.

(Prof. Dr. Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani is Professor at the School of International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia. Email: [email protected].)