Not a shadow cabinet, Perikatan MPs to 'monitor' portfolios, says Hamzah

PETALING JAYA: The recent appointment of Perikatan Nasional MPs as heads of portfolios does not equate to the formation of a shadow cabinet, Datuk Seri says Hamzah Zainudin.

The Opposition leader said that while each portfolio had an MP as the leader, the MP would be assisted by a task force of Perikatan MPs.

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Hamzah said that the appointed "head" MP and his team would monitor and voice out concerns over issues related to the specific ministry they are assigned to.

"Many have misinterpreted the portfolio heads as a shadow cabinet but it isn't. The portfolios are to allow Perikatan Nasional to move as a cohesive unit in performing checks and balances to the government at all ministries," he said.

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He added that they would provide "quality ideas" and views, and even support "good" initiatives by the Prime Minister.

Separately, Hamzah said that with the unity government yet to even pass its 100-day mark, many questions were already being asked by the public.

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He said that inefficiencies and weaknesses in the administration have already started showing, which were causing unrest amongst the public.

"Issues involving the cost of living have not been tackled effectively by this PH-BN government. The number of urban poor is rising.

"The B40 is increasing and has now turned into the B52 but the 10th Prime Minister is still flaunting poetic and melancholic words," he said.

He added that while such words were nice to listen to, they did not resolve problems.

"Egg supply issues have not been solved and the price of vegetables has increased to almost 160%. When there is an egg supply issue, the deputy minister says 'you can't force chickens to lay eggs'.

"When the price of chickens is too high, the minister says 'by right kena kurangkan makan ayam (you have to reduce the consumption of chicken)'," he said.

He also took shots at Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, saying that when addressing the issue of nepotism, his tone had changed and that he was not the "old fierce Rafizi Ramli".