KUCHING: Though the next general election must be held by March 2013, there are already murmurs on the ground that Sarawak deserves having more full ministers in the federal cabinet when the next government is formed.
Talks of an early parliamentary election, with some predicting it to be held before the end of this year, have led to political parties getting themselves prepared, including identifying winnable candidates.
This can be felt in Sarawak even though it has only been months after the April 16 state election which saw the state Barisan Nasional forming the state government with a handsome majority.
In the federal Barisan Nasional, 29 of its 137 seats are held by the state BN and many local political observers are of the opinion that there should be more ministers from Sarawak to recognise the state’s continued support for the coalition.
However, there seems to be more cabinet appointments from peninsula-based BN components. This includes the recent appointment of another full minister from the MIC.
In the 33-member federal cabinet, there are only three full ministers from Sarawak namely Dato Sri Douglas Uggah of PBB, Datuk Seri Peter Chin of SUPP and Datuk Seri Idris Jala, a senator not representing any political party.
Umno, as the BN backbone with 78 MPs, has 19 full ministers including three held by its senators.
MCA, with 15 MPs, has four full ministers, while MIC with four MPs has two. Another peninsula-based BN party Gerakan, which only has two MPs, has a full minister, albeit, held by a senator.
As for Sabah BN parties, there are four full ministers comprising one each from PBS (three MPs) and UPKO (four MPs), and two from Umno.
In Sarawak, PBB with 14 MPs has one full minister and SUPP (five MPs) has one full minister. PRS with six MPs and SPDP four MPs have none.
The exclusion of these two Sarawak rural-based parties (PRS and SPDP) has puzzled many local political observers who feel the parties deserved to be considered for ministerial posts.
Although the parties are represented in the BN supreme council meetings, the general opinion among them is that ministers from the two parties can voice out problems from the state’s rural communities.
A state BN leader, who did not want to be named, concurred that the rationale of cabinet appointments should be based on number of seats won.
“There is no rhyme or reason in appointing cabinet members, it seems. In parliamentary democracy, winners count and should be duly recognised,” he said.
He also opined there should be less cabinet appointments from among senators because the winning parliamentarians deserve the minister and deputy minister posts, than them.
“Those who won in elections have the mandate from the people, and they have worked hard and regularly ‘turun padang’ (go to the ground) to achieve the victory,” he said.
PBB deputy information chief, Dato Peter Minos, also agreed when asked if the cabinet line-up should reflect the number of seats held by the state BN.
While stressing that Sarawak should not make demands, he said prior consideration should be given to the state BN when the next government is formed.
“Logically, if MIC with 4 MPs has two full ministers, then PBB should have at least two, SUPP 1, SPDP 1 and PRS 1. That will look good, in recognising their MPs’ contribution to the national BN. PBB’s share in particular should be well considered.
“Hopefully, after next general election, the Prime Minister, who has the prerogative, will make things better for Sarawak. As for BN Sabah, they seem better represented in the federal cabinet, they are lucky and we wish them all the best.” said Minos.