Part of ‘culture’ for Sarawak Cabinet to retain ‘old faces’
KUCHING: A political analyst does not expect the Sarawak Cabinet to include younger faces any time soon due to the “culture” in the state.
James Chin of the University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute said although a “generational shift” is crucial to ensure positions of power are also held by younger leaders, the current line-up in Sarawak is unlikely to change.
He said most Sarawak ministers had been in the state Cabinet for decades, including Abang Johari Openg who had been there for 30 years, holding various portfolios before becoming chief minister.
“Obviously, there is a need for a generational shift, but we all know this will not happen in Sarawak due to the culture of keeping loyal ministers, since the days of former chief minister Taib Mahmud,” he told FMT.
Chin said that when Taib was in power, he did not like changing his Cabinet ministers as he wanted those loyal to him to remain “for a long time”.
“That’s why Sarawak had the country’s longest-serving deputy chief minister when Alfred Jabu stepped down after 40 years. This is being repeated in the current Cabinet, which is lacking in young blood and with ministers who have been there for decades,” he said.
He said having the same government leaders had resulted in “groupthink” in the decision-making process – familiarity with their colleagues and a tendency not to change work habits, making it difficult to embrace fresh ideas.
However, although this was the case in Sarawak, the position of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the coming state election would not be affected.
He said voters, especially the elderly in the interior, did not see the need for young leaders. “If they are already GPS supporters, (their loyalties) will not shift.”
Chin was commenting on a statement by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng that he was ready to relinquish his position for a younger leader to take over.
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