Why didn’t Tun M assign the more-apt Health Ministry to Kak Wan?

Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad breached the 12^th Promise in Pakatan Harapan’s Manifesto by grabbing the heavyweight Education Ministry for himself. The 12^th Promise pledged to restrict the Prime Minister’s power by limiting the number of terms in office and preventing them from holding additional Ministry positions.   

However, let us disregard the blatant contradictory move by Tun Mahathir for a moment. Let us try to be constructive by showing our willingness to accept that he might be the best fit for the job, due to his past experience in the Education Ministry.

Following that train of thought, the Prime Minister seemingly supports the notion that a position should be filled by an individual best qualified for it; hence, himself as the Education Minister.

This raises the question as to why he assigned Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to the Women Affairs Ministry? The Women Affairs Ministry is not named as one of the 10 Cabinet portfolios that Tun Mahathir initially announced, meaning it was a role recently created.

Was Dr Wan Azizah’s appointed portfolio intended to placate PKR members that their President is, too, allowed to dual-wield ministerial roles just like him?

If so, Tun Mahathir should have opened up the Health Ministry for his Deputy since it is considered a heavyweight portfolio. It is not uncommon knowledge that Dr. Wan Azizah is a highly qualified medicinal practitioner. She graduated as an ophthalmologist from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland which awarded her a Gold Medal for her skills in obstetrics and gynaecology. She also had 14 years of experience under her belt serving as a government doctor, and hence would be best suited to reform any weaknesses in the Health Ministry besides advancing the health sector in Malaysia.

After all, Tun Dr Mahathir also served as a doctor in government hospitals and can comprehend the workings and in-and-out of the government health services, policies, legislations. Furthermore, everyone would definitely require clinic or hospital treatment at one point of their life.

If Lim Guan Eng is assigned to the Finance Ministry due to him being an accountant by training, Dr. Wan Azizah should have been accorded the Health Minister position due to her profession too. She would have made history by being the first female Health Minister.

It his move by Tun Mahathir designed to curb the influence of Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, his family and the PJK faction? There is simply no reason to deny the more suitable, and heavier weight portfolio of the Health Ministry to Anwar’s doctor wife.

Dato’ Dr Mah Hang Soon
MCA Perak State Liaison Committee Chairman

-MCA online-