PN shadow cabinet in the works

Perikatan Nasional (PN) will come up with a shadow cabinet to provide a responsible opposition that is constructive, collaborative and responsible.

PAS information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin shared this on Astro Awani's current affairs programme ‘Agenda Awani’ last night.

"We are organising a shadow cabinet based on the expertise (of our MPs) to scrutinise cabinet ministries.

"Moreover, we have been part of the PN and Keluarga Malaysia governments before," he said.

Khairil (above) said PN was also looking forward to parliamentary reforms and heading select committees, including the powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

"In the past, DAP headed the PAC. Rightfully, the Prime Minister's Department will ensure all select committees will have the facilities and support systems necessary for us to achieve our goals," he added.

Khairil was elected as the Jerantut MP during the Nov 19 general election. He was previously a member of the Dewan Negara.

Problems with small cabinet

Meanwhile, Umno information chief Isham Jalil told Agenda Awani that too small a cabinet can be detrimental.

Isham said the right size was 28 ministries, down from the previous 31.

He explained that if too many ministries were consolidated, it will put additional pressure on cabinet ministers, who have to sign subsidiary legislations.

"If too much power is placed on one minister after consolidation, there will be less checks and balances. The minister will be burdened," he added.

He said that although cabinet ministries can be consolidated and merged, the cost savings were negligible because the number of staff and assets will be the same.

"Perhaps we will pay less in salaries for ministers - around RM50,000 a month - it is not that significant," he opined.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has promised not to take a salary and pledged to form a smaller cabinet.

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