Splitting certain ministries will boost efficiency, say analysts

KUCHING: Splitting certain ministries and bringing back experienced hands will allow the unity government to better achieve its policy aims such as growing the renewable energy sector and nurturing digital commerce, say analysts.

Political scientist Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi said this was seen in the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s decision to divide the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change into two new ministries.

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One ministry will be in charge of Energy Transition and Public Utilities and the other will handle Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability.

“(This reshuffle) increases the efficiency of the country’s administration (with) the aim of giving a more specific focus so that its (Cabinet) performance can be improved,” Awang Azman of Universiti Malaya, told Bernama.

The unity government has made nurturing the renewable energy industry as a priority area growth area as seen in National Energy Transition Roadmap, which was launched in August.

As a reflection of how important this aim is, Anwar has put Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof in charge of Energy Transition and Public Utilities.

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Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability will be handled by Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Anwar’s new Cabinet line-up also brings back former minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani as the Plantation and Commodities Minister and corporate personality Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan as Second Finance Minister respectively.

Also returning is Gobind Singh Deo, who used to be in the Communications and Multimedia Ministry but who will now helm the Digital Ministry.

“Their expertise is something that has an impact and can increase the people’s confidence in the Cabinet besides bringing in investors,” said Awang Azman.

Another academic Dr Abdul Hadi Samsi said that the return of some former ministers as deputy ministers, such as Kulasegaran V. Murugeson, was not an issue.

“If they (former ministers) accept the position (as deputy ministers), indirectly, it means that they accept the responsibilities entrusted to them,” said Hadi, of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Bintulu.

Kulasegaran was a former Human Resources Minister from 2018 to 2020, and he is now a deputy minister in the law and institutional reform portfolio under the Prime Minister’s Department.