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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob.

MALAYSIANS must have hoped Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob would announce a lean Cabinet line-up, but the political climate obviously denied him that opportunity.

He did the right thing by not appointing a Deputy Prime Minister since there’s no urgency for it.

The Prime Minister has had to fend off intense demands, lobbying and pressure to appoint one.

It would have caused unnecessary friction had he chosen one, but in the first place, there’s no provision in the Federal Constitution for a DPM. It’s only a practice, but for succession and risk management reasons, having a deputy helps. Malaysia’s political history, however, is filled with DPMs who failed to reach the pinnacle of their political ambitions.

The new Cabinet line-up is as bloated as the previous one under the Muhyiddin administration. Ismail Sabri had to juggle Umno, Bersatu and the interests of Barisan Nasional parties, as well as those from Sabah and Sarawak. For a small country, we certainly have too many politicians.

For those expecting fresh faces, including professionals with non-political interests, it didn’t happen because that’s not how politics works.

His critics have called it a “recycled Cabinet” and “cut and paste Cabinet.”

The only exception is banker Tengku Zafrul Aziz, who retained his job as Finance Minister, despite calls to the PM that a politician should take the job since the general election will possibly be within eight months from now.

Some political analysts have claimed that Ismail Sabri, in drawing up the list, had also taken into account the coming party polls.

Ismail Sabri, who is an Umno vice president, is said to be eyeing a higher party post. If that it true, it means he considered who would be able to deliver him the votes, depending on which states or wings they come from.

Whatever the reasons, he should have done better. Some ministers have no reasons to hold any Cabinet positions as they have failed to inspire or deliver in their previous Cabinet or government posts. Giving these persons a new lease of life is hard to justify.

If this Cabinet line-up is meant to be operational, ahead of a fresh poll for Ismail Sabri to win the mandate, then it makes perfect sense, because there’s no point for newbies to learn the ropes.

The new face is Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu as Youth and Sports Minister. Popularly known as Peja, he is also the Bersatu deputy president.

He has taken a beating on social media, but he’s really an affable person.

His recent food review video on his curry mee lunch in Putrajaya has made him the butt of jokes, but he only did it because a food seller had asked him to help endorse his fledgling business, which has suffered from the ravages of the pandemic.

He obliged and probably regrets it now.

Many of our Malaysian politicians, including the PM, are very accessible. Political reporters can easily call up our ministers, unlike in Singapore or Hong Kong, for instance, where that’s impossible.

Ismail Sabri has also been criticised for doing food reviews, so naturally, it has raised eyebrows. Now that he’s PM, his endorsement of local businesses must be curtailed.

He is no longer a mere news byte among Malaysians – the world will be watching him now. So will many angry Malaysians who can say whatever they want on social media, where the reach is swift and consequences brutal.

Any explanation that follows would be perceived as apologetic or just damage control.

Visiting a disaster area in Kedah last week, the PM was shocked to see a huge billboard welcoming him. If that wasn’t bad enough, he had 51 cars, supposedly, joining him as a convoy.

Prior to that, several excited officials on a plane to Kedah took pictures with him. It didn’t go down well with most Malaysians, although many would have done the same.

The officials who put up the billboard should be reprimanded because it is understood that the Prime Minister’s Office had advised them against it, but they proceeded with the plan anyway.

It’s time for the PM to create a new culture – there’s no need for sycophants to turn up in full force at every event the PM attends.

Surely party members and government leaders have work to do, instead of taking time off to be near him and break every Covid-19 SOP in the process.

So, when the rakyat see these inane acts, they rightly question why these people broke the rules instead of setting a good example. Importantly, why did no one tell those half-wits off?

It will be a welcome change if the PM issues a directive for his visits or events to be “modest”. There’s no need for a posse of hangers-on. If you have no business, stay away. Besides, the pandemic is raging, so please don’t infect the PM or reporters covering the events.

And since we are on this, sir, could you please do away with the bunga manggar and kompang, and lion dance, when all is back to normal? Keep your speeches simple too, and Malaysians would love to see you remove the obligatory 10-minute salutation.

Most of the people – the untitled Tuan Tuan dan Puan Puan – don’t appreciate being at the bottom of the pecking order.

In Africa, most speeches start with the person addressing the VIP, followed by “all protocols observed,” and then the person gets on with the real business of delivering the speech.

Ismail Sabri has a chance to prove that an Umno PM can reform and make changes, the simple ones, as well as the complicated ones.

He has set off with a refreshing change of getting the Opposition to work with him.

Let’s give credit to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, too, for expressing his willingness to support Ismail Sabri’s leadership if the PM takes a more “pro-rakyat” route.

He also said that Pakatan Harapan agreed that cooling down the country’s “political temperature” was important as priority should be on managing Covid-19-related issues.

And should a confidence vote for Ismail Sabri be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar hinted that Pakatan may choose to back it.

Malaysia needs bipartisanship badly. We must work towards a mature democracy. Politics may be able to obtain power, but politicians should be aware that it’s also about serving the people. Many seem to have forgotten this.

While we practise the Westminster democracy of the government and opposition, there’s no reason why both sides can’t work together on areas of common interest, such as reforms to institutions and laws.

Limiting the tenure of the PM to two terms or a maximum of 10 years makes sense, for example. So does allowing 18-year-olds to vote in the general election.

There has to be less combative politics, where scoring points seems to be the only approach. Malaysians are tired of this, but when so-called Members of Parliament display such uncouth posturing, it encourages their supporters to emulate their stance.

This is amplified in how comments are made on social media, where sadly, respect and civil discourse are in short order as debates degenerate into name-calling.

Malaysia celebrates its 64th year of independence this year. There is tremendous disdain for politicians from both sides.

We deserve more and better. Likewise, the PM deserves a chance to do the job.