上周，一个令人关注的新闻是内阁改组。自去年尾以来，内阁改组的谣言一直流传，过去几周更是甚嚣尘上。然而首相马哈迪反应，正如去年一样，否认会改组，只言会有一些部长的职务会进行对调。
一位资深政治家说，“人们必须了解马哈迪，他不喜欢被人抢先一步。如果你说他会做某事，他可能会反其道而行。”
实际上，希盟成员党已在党内以及希盟的层面，商讨内阁改组的事项。
这是为了确保官僚体制符合希盟政府──特别是首相马哈迪，要落实的宏愿政策和大选的承诺，内阁改组也有助于重新定位某些个人的政治地位，不管是向上或向下。据知，马哈迪的儿子吉州大臣拿督斯里慕克里兹将调往中央，接替那些我行我素的部长，而现任一名副部长人选，也是吉打国州议员者，将接替慕克里兹出任大臣。
慕克里兹再次到中央任官（他曾在纳吉任首相时，出任贸工部副部长）将被视为马哈迪计划安排儿子日后上位任相。从好的方面言，这等于安排了隔代接班人，如果希盟能继续执政的话；或者从最糟糕的情况言，这无疑更令人质疑，安华能否出任第8任首相。
这也进一步让人揣测，经济事务部长拿督斯里阿兹敏会否是马哈迪属意的接班人。阿兹敏正陷入性丑闻事件，内阁改组可能是一项替代计划，让他拥有更多时间或加速其他人选上位的空间。
与此同时，这也牵涉到副首相拿督斯里旺阿兹莎，她已不是公正党主席。目前有一种说法，内阁改组是让旺阿兹莎退位，让她的丈夫安华进入内阁，作为安华未来任首过程的一部分。
不过，安华表明，他目前无意进入内阁。据一些公正党成员表示，其中一个原因是，一旦入阁，即使一些内阁的决策，他不认同，他也须因内阁集体责任约束，而承担有关责任。
同时，也有报导指，将有一个额外的部门，即从教育部里，分割出高等教育部。这令人关注的是，加入土团党的前巫统部长拿督斯里慕斯达法将借此重新入阁。
尽管之前曾言，从巫统和国阵跳槽过来的议员，不可任官，但希盟领导层同意慕斯达法可例外。慕斯达法受到广泛尊重，没有丑闻，被认为能够获得马来社会支持的人，尤其目前由巫统和伊党控制的州属里。
等待对的时机
在诚信党方面，有建议国防部长莫哈未沙布与联邦直辖区部长卡立沙末对调职位。至于行动党会维持现状，但沙民兴党至少会有一项变更，至于是谁，不言而喻。
至少有4名部长将除名，他们是由于效率低、有争议，以及至少有一人涉及治理和诚信问题。
首相可能再次否认他正计划进行改组，但必须要问的是，为何民众在某些情况下会对这一消息充满期待。
有时需要进行重新洗牌，就像公司在年度绩效评估后，管理层改组一样。希盟新政府是由新人组成，一些人是新手，因此改组是有必要的。这就如新车行驶1万公里后，都须更换一些部件及维修。
在希盟的例子，内阁改组是要撤换没表现、无用、无法符合希盟精神的人选。更重要的是，那些偏离了希盟价值观并且玩弄权术的人必须撤换。部长或其部门对属下涉及滥用权力、腐败或其他诚信问题，而一无所知者，也应该被撤换。
希盟执政一周年后，各方包括媒体和民间社会，给予了“成绩单”。一些部长的表现也在评估内，许多是不达标。
对希盟而言，民众的期望和标准毕竟过高。马哈迪可能会说，没有必要进行内阁改组。然而，他能通过舆论并反问：为何人们想要改组？以他资深经历，他能了解民众的情绪及答案所在。
因此，人们不要惊讶，在内阁改组上，或许马哈迪已作出了决定，谁留及谁去。问题是时机，马哈迪是知道正确时刻出击的领导者。别忘了，当年东西马时间统一标准化就是马哈迪任首时的杰作。
内阁改组势在必行（Cabinet reshuffle not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’）原文：
The tail end of the working week saw some excitement over a supposed Cabinet reshuffle. The rumours had been festering since late last year and again in the last few weeks as well.
However just as he did last year, Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad dismissed the talk of changes in his administration, saying everything is status quo.
“One thing one must know about Dr. Mahathir,” said a veteran politician, “is that he does not like to be pre-empted. If you say he’s going to do something, he will probably do just the opposite.”
On record, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition partners have had discussions at their respective party levels as well as the PH level on the possible need for an administrative overhaul.
While this was meant to ensure an administration where everyone is in line with the PH – and specifically Dr. Mahathir’s – vision of realising policies and fulfilling election promises, the proposed Cabinet review also serves to redirect the political paths of certain individuals – either upwards or downwards.
From what was learnt, Mahathir’s son the Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, was to move to the Federal administration, taking over from a current loose cannon minister who is facing the sack.
A current deputy minister who is both MP and state assemblyman in Kedah was said to be taking over from Mukhriz.
Mukhriz’s re-entry to the Federal administration (he was once deputy minister for International Trade and Industry in Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak’s administration) will be seen as Mahathir putting his chess pieces in place for his son to one day become prime minister. This at best, lays a proper succession plan for the next two terms if PH were to continue to govern; or at worst raises more questions on the certainty of Anwar’s future as the eight prime minister.
It also further fuels speculation over the future of Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as Dr. Mahathir’s supposed preferred choice to succeed him.
Azmin is now battling a sex scandal and a Cabinet reshuffle could be a Plan B to buy him more time or to accelerate the ascension of other candidates.
Meanwhile, there is also the matter of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. The present Deputy Prime Minister and Women and Family Development Minister has relinquished her position as PKR president.
Then is the conversation of a reshuffle designed to address her impending exit and the entry of her husband Anwar into the Cabinet as part of the process for him to take over the mantle?
Anwar has indicated he is not interested in Cabinet positions at the moment. One reason, according to several PKR members being he would be bound by the collective responsibility on certain Cabinet decisions even if he did not agree to them.
There was also the news of an extra ministry being created with the splitting up of the Education Ministry, and the establishment of the Higher Education Ministry.
This news was eagerly anticipated as it would also see the entry of former UMNO minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad who had since joined Dr. Mahathir’s Bersatu party.
Despite the agreement that no UMNO and BN cross-overs would be given positions, the PH leadership has concurred that Mustapa is the exception to the rule. He is widely respected, no skeletons in his closet and kept his distance from the 1MDB scandal. He is regarded as someone who can draw support from the Malay heartland, currently controlled by UMNO and PAS.
In Amanah there was a suggestion for a swapping of portfolios between Defence Minister Mohd Sabu and Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Khalid Samad.While it is status quo for the DAP, there is at least one change proposed in Warisan. No prizes for guessing who.
At least four ministers were on the chopping board for inefficiency, controversy and in at least one troubling instance – matters on governance and integrity.
The Prime Minister may again deny that he is planning a reshuffle, but one must ask why the Rakyat in some case, feel hopeful over this news.
Sometimes a reshuffle is needed like a company’s management shake-up following an annual performance review.
With a new government comprising new ministers, many of whom are extremely green, this could be a necessary exercise.
It is akin to a mandatory service and oil change after the first 10,000km when you purchase your car, where the warranty covers parts.
In the instance of PH, the targets for elimination should be the non-performers, the deadwood, those who have lost the plot and those completely out of their league. More importantly those who have deviated from their values and are too busy playing politics – be it party or communal must go.
Ministers who personally or who’s ministries are under the radar of the authorities for abuse of power or corruption or other integrity issues should also face the axe.
Many “report cards” were issued on PH’s first year by various groups including the media and civil society. The performances of certain ministers have also been included in these report cards, and many are far from complimentary.
After all the expectations and benchmarks set by the public are higher for PH.
Dr. Mahathir may tell us that there is no need for a Cabinet reshuffle. However, he is capable of reading the groundswell and ask: “is a reshuffle what the people want and why?”
He has enough years of experience and the ability to read the mood of the rakyat to answer this question. And one will not be surprised that in his mind he has already decided who should stay and who should go.
The question is timing and Dr. Mahathir is one leader who knows the right moment to strike. After all this is the man who created the Malaysian Standard Time by synchronizing the clocks for Peninsular and East Malaysia!
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