KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional has come up a shadow cabinet, which includes all ministries, as part of a check-and-balance against the Pakatan Harapan government.
Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa said that the shadow cabinet, comprising portfolio committees, will be co-chaired by two Barisan lawmakers or highly-qualified individuals with the right qualifications.
"It will act as a policy watch and to present alternative policies against Pakatan," he told a press conference at the Umno headquarters here on Wednesday (Sept 26).
He said that Barisan component parties including MCA, MIC and PBRS will also be part of the shadow cabinet.
The committees will also be involved in Barisan's shadow budget, which will be spearheaded by Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin.
Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be in charge of a portfolio to shadow the Prime Minister's Department, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakub and Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Home Ministry) and Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (Defence Ministry).
Meanwhile, MCA's sole MP and deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong will shadow the Transport Ministry, MIC's Cameron Highlands MP Datuk Sivarraajh Chandran (Primary Industries Ministry) and Pensiangan MP Arthur Joseph Kurup (Rural Development Ministry).
Khairy said on Twitter, "Now that the shadow cabinet has been announced, institutional reform of Parliament should follow with select committees & resources for shadow ministers".
He added that anyone with finance or economics experience is welcome to "help the opposition craft our first shadow budget".
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