Stop Gap Measure Cabinet?

The Cabinet list already out from the stove but before it was served to the rakyat, there are already rumblings followed by aftershocks. Two deputy ministers declined appointments, one of them citing he has been too long on the job as deputy. Meaning if he is appointed a full minister, he will gladly accept it.



The oft-repeated drama played by the AP minister was replayed after been discarded from the cabinet is nothing extraordinary. Its the usual story. Maybe she should take the cue from former Umno sec-gen Sheikh Radzi and quit as well. If she did she would surely do Pak Lah a favour. She will be quickly replaced by Shahrizat as the acting wanita head. The writing already on the walls when Pak Lah appointed Shahrizat as the Special adviser with ministerial status even though she lost in Lembah Pantai. Why procrastinate? Change them while its still hot!



Pak Lah is in manouvering mode before the next Umno election by placing the people he wants in cabinet positions. This will strengthen his position as Umno president since those newly appointed Cabinet ministers will be expected to support him. Furthermore, expect a drastic change in the Umno supreme council as new ministers will be bidding for higher positions in Umno.



MCA will be having their AGM in October and sparks are expected to fly. Many has said, in politics there is no permanent friends or foes. Just look at MIC Samy Vellu and S. Subramaniam. Do not be surprised if political foes from the pre 2003 Team A and Team B establish a Reform Team. The Reform Team will link dropouts like the two former Minister of Health Chua Soi Lek and Chua Jui Meng with the losing PJU candidate vice president Lim Siang Chai forming the triple axis. This Reform Team are expected to challenge the current top leadership led by the Ongs(Huang) clan, namely Ong Ka Ting, Ka Chuan and Ng Yen Yen. Ong Tee Keat will be watching this developments closely and his move will be monitored by both sides too.



The Reform Team cannot be underestimated. Johore is still under the grip of Chua Soi Lek and Lim Siang Chai influence in Selangor cannot be discounted. Add that with the invisible hand of a former president whose son lost in his bid in the recent general election.



Is the recent Cabinet is just a stop gap measure? Will there be a major Cabinet re-shuffle after the AGM of the two main parties in BN? That will depends on the results of the respective parties election. The aftershocks is not over yet!