PETALING JAYA: PAS has voiced its concern about the recent Cabinet reshuffle, including the appointment of several leaders to key ministries.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said these included appointing Hannah Yeoh and Lo Su Fui as the Federal Territories Minister and Deputy Minister, respectively, while retaining DAP leaders in the Housing and Local Government and Transport Minister posts.
"It must be stressed that the Federal Territories: Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, are not normal territories or portfolios, as they represent the heart of national politics and administration," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 17).
"The centralisation of strategic administration of cities, local government, housing and local authorities in the hands of leaders from one party and ethnicity can raise major, legitimate and unavoidable questions regarding issues of imbalance and excessive centralisation of power as well as the true direction of national governance," he added.
Takiyuddin said it was also concerning that there was a widespread perception that the appointments were made not on merit or policy needs, but as a result of political pressure and bargaining.
"PAS has taken note of speculation that it is closely linked to political ultimatums by DAP, including the party's threat to withdraw from the government if several of its demands, including the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) of Chinese private schools, are not met," he claimed.
"If cabinet positions are used as political 'bunga emas' (tribute) for the support and loyalty of any party, then it is clear that it is a serious erosion of the idea and institution of principled government, thus weakening the integrity of the process of forming and formulating national policies," he said.
"This situation raises deep concerns that it is a deliberate ploy to strengthen DAP's dominance in Kuala Lumpur and other major urban centres in the country, aimed at enabling one party to shape and shape urban policies, land use, housing and local government without an effective and transparent process of checks and balances.
"Such centralisation of power will undoubtedly cause serious public unrest, especially with the presence of controversial legal initiatives such as the proposed Urban Redevelopment Act (URA), which are seen as potentially marginalising certain groups of urban residents, particularly the Malays and low-income groups, including the potential loss of their property rights," he added.
Takiyuddin said that continuing an administrative approach seen as prioritising the political interests and those of the urban elite while ignoring the legitimate interests and sentiments of the grassroots would widen the gap between groups in society and between regions and localities.
"This will, in turn, contribute to the erosion of national unity.
"Without convincing justification to support the cabinet reshuffle and the appointments made will only reinforce the notion that positions in the cabinet have been distributed according to political tastes and desires, not the interests of the people and the country," he said.
"It should be remembered that leadership is not an activity of arranging the number of members just to maintain power, but rather an exercise that is closely related to trust, wisdom and responsibility.
"The cabinet reshuffle should restore confidence, not foster doubt; heal wounds, not rub salt on them; bridge cracks, not add divisions; patch leaks, not puncture the keel," he said.
"It must also reflect the diversity of our society through fair and effective representation and appointments based on merit, maturity and vision," he added.
