KUALA LUMPUR, 9 April 2009: The Centre of Public Policy Studies (CPPS), part of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli), has welcomed the new cabinet announced today by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
In a statement, the chairperson of Asli-CPPS, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said there is a relatively higher degree of integrity amongst members of the cabinet.
“It is refreshing that there are many new faces and a number of the long standing old guards have been replaced,” Ramon said in the statement.
According to Ramon, the cabinet is encouragingly more compact with 28 members and comprised many personalities who are more performance oriented, as promised by the prime minister.
“The elevation of the role of deputy ministers will help improve the effectiveness of the new administration.
“It will also relieve the ministers of more routine functions of government and enable them to spend more time on policy formulation and supervision,” he said.
He also expressed the hope that the new cabinet would deliver as promised on the basis of the “One Malaysia” concept which emphasises the promotion of national unity, integrity and progress for all Malaysians.
“The introduction of key performance indicators for the cabinet reflects the higher priority given to efficiency and meritocracy which are vital for our national progress.
“Hopefully, civil society can also monitor the performance of the cabinet, for the prime minister’s consideration,” he said.
Ramon stated that the new cabinet would have to move fast to deliver on its One Malaysia promises in order to raise public confidence in the government’s capacity to overcome the serious challenges now faced in all fields. — Bernama
