Muhyiddin to lead ‘shadow’ Cabinet

PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional has come out with a strategy to “shadow” the Cabinet, with its chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin acting as Chief of MPs.

Annoucing this yesterday, he said PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang would act as his deputy in the Perikatan Porfolio Committee.

Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin would remain the Opposition Leader in Parliament, with PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan to monitor the Home Ministry and Bersatu vice-president Datuk Radzi Md Jidin keeping an eye on the finance and economy portfolios.

Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah will monitor education and higher education, while Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim will be in charge of rural and regional development.

“Various briefing sessions regarding our duties and responsibilities have been held where we explained the current situation,” Muhyiddin said at a press conference here yesterday.

Monitoring team: Muhyiddin (right) and Hamzah showing a poster of the shadow Cabinet.

The Bersatu president said the committee members would be assisted by a research team consisting of experts to help improve their skills and knowledge in their respective portfolios.

“They have a duty and responsibility to assist the country in solving issues,” he said.

Muhyiddin said the Perikatan secretariat would make policy statements from time to time on various issues, such as the economy, education, environment, defence and security.

“We will table it (policy statements) and are ready to take on greater responsibilities if the people give us another mandate to lead the country,” he said.

Other appointments in the committee include Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who will monitor youth and sports, and Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who will cover law and institutional reforms.

Perikatan has 74 MPs, made up of Bersatu’s 31 and PAS’ 43.