By Dr. Mahathir Mohd Rais
A recent report by the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) shows that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration has made 95 political appointments to state-owned enterprises, fewer than most of his predecessors.
However, this raises important questions about whether real reform is taking place or if these figures tell only part of the story.
Comparing Anwar Ibrahim’s numbers to previous prime ministers, Najib Razak tops the list with 301 political appointments during his tenure, while Ismail Sabri Yaakob made 273 and Muhyiddin Yassin 186. Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, during his second time in office, made 86 appointments.
Notably, IDEAS did not have data on Mahathir’s first stint as prime minister.
At first glance, the lower number of appointments under Anwar Ibrahim could suggest an attempt to scale back political patronage. IDEAS reports that 79 of PMX appointees are in federal statutory bodies (FSBs) and 16 in government-linked companies (GLCs).
However, the context behind these numbers invites a more critical examination.
One factor to consider is the number of political appointees from previous administrations, particularly those linked to UMNO, who still occupy these positions.
According to IDEAS, UMNO has historically dominated the landscape of political appointments, with 410 appointees across the past few administrations.
Many of these individuals may still hold their roles under Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, which would help explain why the number of new appointees is relatively low.
If many UMNO appointees, particularly those from the Ismail Sabri and Muhyiddin Yassin administrations, continue to enjoy their roles, it suggests that the Anwar Ibrahim government’s approach might be more about maintaining the status quo than delivering on promises of reform.
Anwar Ibrahim himself has emphasised the importance of vetting political appointees, noting that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and other agencies are involved in ensuring integrity in the process.
But if the government has made a total of 117 political appointments by July, as Anwar Ibrahim revealed, it raises concerns about the commitment to reducing such appointments, especially when juxtaposed with long-standing reform promises.
For decades, Anwar Ibrahim and other reform-minded politicians like Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang have championed the need to abolish political appointments to ensure merit-based governance.
The public has been waiting for these promises to materialise.
But with continued political appointments and the potential retention of figures from previous administrations, the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) government is being seen as following the same path as its predecessors.
The disappointment is palpable.
Many look at Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s tenure as one defined by the unprecedented challenge of managing the COVID-19 crisis, which inevitably necessitated swift decisions and appointments to manage the pandemic’s fallout.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, as his successor, had to continue navigating the country through this legacy, ensuring stability during a period of transition.
To taint these efforts while presenting oneself as above reproach is not only unfair but disregards the critical context these leaders operated within.
Ultimately, PMX risks alienating the very public he pledged to serve by painting a picture of reform while continuing practices that echo the past.
About the author: Dr. Mahathir Mohd Rais, Bersatu Federal Territories State Secretary. This is an opinion column. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of this publication.
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