Anwar: BN, too, has no shadow cabinet
Pakatan Rakyat today parried BN’s criticism that it has not formed a shadow cabinet, instead going on the offensive to point out that the BN, too, does not have a shadow exco in states where it is the opposition.
Pakatan Rakyat today parried BN’s criticism that it has not formed a shadow cabinet, instead going on the offensive to point out that the BN, too, does not have a shadow exco in states where it is the opposition.
“On the shadow cabinet, has (Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak announced who will be the Selangor menteri besar?” he said during a press conference at the Parliament lobby this afternoon.
He added that this was only the practice in certain countries such as the UK and Australia, but was not so in Thailand and Indonesia.
Yesterday, the premier had said that Pakatan should not think about forming the government when it cannot even form a shadow cabinet.
Anwar denied that Pakatan is trying to dodge the problem.
“I am not avoiding (the issue). If you want to know who will be ministers and deputy ministers (if Pakatan becomes the federal government), look at the senior leader list of all three parties (in Pakatan Rakyat).
“All the senior leaders (will be appointed) - that is if they win in the general election,” he said.
He also said Pakatan has a specialisation committee for various ministries.
“As I have said before, we have specialised people from the parties in Pakatan to look into issues such as education, economy and Petronas,” he said.
Adding on, Subang MP R Sivarasa ( right ) told the press conference that unlike countries that practice full shadow cabinets, there is no institution to support this system in Malaysia.
“In countries that have shadow cabinets, they are given financing with (human resources) to support it. Australia for example, has about 100 staff supporting the shadow cabinet,” he said.
Guan Eng: Pakatan leaders not power crazy
Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng scoffed at BN, saying that despite their "lies" that Pakatan has no Prime Minister designate, the coalition has unanimously agreed that Anwar shall take up the post.
The DAP secretary-general said Pakatan's "unique formula" of a shadow cabinet by appointing three persons respectively from each party for every ministerial portfolio shows it is not power crazy.
"This demonstrates that Pakatan leaders are not crazy for political posts but are hungry in policies that benefit the people," Lim said in a statement.
"Such new political culture by Pakatan, of people-centric policies that work, contrasts with BN’s personality-driven cult that enriches cronies," he added.
