Anwar needs to make smart political appointments

Anwar’s announcement of his Cabinet lineup was pushed back throughout Friday and was only eventually made after 8pm. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet lineup and the delay in announcing it on Friday underline the difficult balance Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister needs to strike among three considerations: representation of the interests of various parties, communities, demographic groups and institutions; competence; and a lean administration.

The last two are what civil society organisations, businesses and the general public want to see. However, failing to see to the first one would mean a short lifespan for his government.