PETALING JAYA: It is unfair to solely criticise the Prime Minister on the Cabinet line-up, adding that the list of candidates was determined by the respective parties and coalitions in the unity government, says Fahmi Fadzil.
The Pakatan Harapan communications director said having the parties and coalitions nominate their candidates was crucial to avoid internal conflict.
"Maybe Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin forgot, but this is not the Pakatan Harapan government where the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) can appoint whoever he wants.
"This is a unity government where important policies or decisions will be made in consultation, including on appointment of Cabinet ministers.
"This is an important change to avoid mistakes that have occurred in every administration since 2018, where the appointment of the Cabinet is often made not according to the party's main leadership.
"At that time, we witnessed the cartel groups in the party being weaponised and creating a "party within a party" situation which ultimately disrupted the internal political stability of the party.
"So different from the previous three administrations, and realising what has happened, the prime minister and the leaders of parties and coalitions in this unity government have agreed that the list of candidates for the Cabinet ministers will be determined by their respective parties or coalitions," he said.
He however reiterated the prime minister's commitment that the unity government would never interfere with judicial affairs in any case.
"Tan Sri Muhyiddin, stop the polemic attacks that confuse and try to confuse the people.
"It is important for us to remember that Tan Sri Muhyiddin himself has many issues that may need to be researched and investigated in the future, including the 1BestariNet issue and the RM500bil fund issue that is said to have been spent during the pandemic period," he said.
Earlier, Muhyiddin had accused Anwar of reneging on promises of good governance he touted during the GE15 campaign period when he named his Cabinet line-up.
Labelling it as the "most disappointing line-up in the country's history" Muhyiddin said having Ahmad Zahid who has a corruption case in his Cabinet line-up was akin to selling the nation's dignity – simply because of his desire to become Prime Minister.
"This kleptocrat Cabinet, formed on the basis of fraud against the people's mandate, does not have any legitimacy to function as the country's highest executive body," said Muhyiddin.
Anwar on Friday announced his list of 28 Cabinet ministers, which includes two deputy prime ministers - Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chief parliamentary whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Ahmad Zahid’s appointment was criticised by many as he is still standing trial for a corruption case where he is accused of 47 criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering charges involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi, the charity organisation he founded.
