Kuching: DAP Sarawak Chairman Chong Chieng Jen has criticised the state government’s decision to expand the number of state cabinet ministers from 10 to 14, alleging that the move is driven by political considerations rather than administrative necessity.
“It seems more to appease the different and competing factions within Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component parties, to reward the loyalists, and to placate the dissatisfied factions within GPS,” he said in a statement.
He said the recent merger between the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) resulted in PDP having a significant number of assemblypersons but no representation at the ministerial level, putting pressure on the Premier to appoint a PDP minister.
“But the question is, who amongst the existing ministers is to be removed?
“There are also different groups within PBB growing in strength. Such groups also demand ministerial posts. Again, who is to be removed?” he asked.
He argued that instead of replacing existing ministers, GPS chose to increase the number of portfolios, which he said would place an unnecessary financial burden on taxpayers.
“That is also why in DUN the minister tabling the bill cannot answer my question on the estimated costs of maintaining a minister and his office.
“Notwithstanding, these political positions and maneuvering, though real, cannot be presented as the formal justifications for the increase of the cabinet size,” he said.
According to Chong, the government’s official justification, citing new challenges such as the rise of the green industry and increasing workloads among ministers, does not hold up.
“All economic sectors and every one of us in Sarawak also face an evolving environment with new challenges, and we all are required to evolve, adapt, and improve ourselves, or else, we will risk being phased out. Why are the ministers so special?
Likewise, as time evolves with new challenges emerging, it is incumbent upon existing ministers to also develop, adapt, and improve themselves to cater to the needs of the new environment.
“For those who can’t evolve, adapt, and improve themselves to tackle new problems and issues, they ought to be replaced rather than having them cling on to the positions and appointing new ones to tackle the new problems,” he said.
Chong also questioned the economy-based rationale for the expansion, noting that Sarawak’s GDP in 2024 stood at RM148 billion, compared to Malaysia’s RM1,650 billion and Singapore’s RM2,300 billion.
Given Sarawak’s relative economic size, he argued that the current 11-member cabinet remains adequate.
Should any of the ministers find the workload too overbearing, it is time to let others handle it, as the saying goes – if you cannot take the heat, get out of the kitchen,” Chong said.
