What Minister Unable To Meet Another Minister

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 It was only 10 days ago that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim spoke of the importance of collaboration and the spirit of genuine cooperation between state and federal leaders to better serve the rakyat.
At the Unity Government Convention on May 14, Anwar praised Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob's willingness to engage and cooperate to solve the state's water problems.
In contrast, he appeared to imply that Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, was deeply arrogant and only knew how to talk big.
"He (Ahmad) is different, the Kelantan menteri besar is willing to negotiate amicably. When someone negotiates in goodwill, we will be twice as good (in response).
"(However), those who are arrogant and snobbish, you go ahead and remain arrogant and snobbish," Anwar said in an apparent reference to Sanusi.
I’m bringing up this statement by the prime minister as a reminder to his cabinet members and those at the state level to cooperate and work closely together at all times.
Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md NorIt’s not only because the prime minister said so but because it is their duty and responsibility to do so.
Apparently, not all of Anwar’s ministers were aware of their boss’ directive to cooperate with state leaders to get things done if a recent incident of “a Sarawak minister unable to meet a federal minister” is any indication.
On Monday, Sarawak’s Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn questioned Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek’s alleged refusal to meet with his ministry since she took office.
The Borneo Post quoted Roland Sagah (above, left), who in his ministerial winding-up speech during the state legislative assembly sitting, said his ministry’s attempts to secure a meeting with Fadhlina have been ignored since December.
“I am aggrieved that our request to have a meeting with the federal minister concerned has not been successful and to add salt to the wound, there was no professional courtesy of inviting my ministry during her visit to Sarawak,” Roland Sagah reportedly said.
I consider such an incident puzzling and serious and we need to get to the bottom of it, if it is true.
Something must be wrong somewhere. Was there a communication issue between the two parties?
Considering that the Education Ministry is such an important and huge entity, such flaws as communication breakdown should not occur.
I loathe bringing in Anwar’s comparison (to this incident) of the menteris besar of Kelantan and Kedah, where one is cooperative while the other is arrogant and snobbish.
However, I can’t help but think there could be a semblance here.
I know Roland Sagah as an old hand in politics. The Bidayuh leader is an experienced and seasoned lawmaker.
Roland Sagah is no rabble-rouser
He must have been in politics for some three decades and is not known to make “noises” unnecessarily.
And Roland Sagah is no rabble-rouser or fault-finder, according to those who know him well.
I also have to be fair to Fadhlina as I know nothing about her, and have not met her or heard her speak. What I do know is that she is a first-term MP, and was given the plum job at the Education Ministry by Anwar.
I’m not sure if the prime minister has got it right by putting a political novice to helm such an important ministry. And I’m also not the only one posing this question as others have done so as well.
A Pakatan Harapan-led government seems to have problems with its education minister. Maszlee Malik, Harapan’s first education minister (2018-2020) was considered a failure and told to resign.
Seriously, if there is no suitable candidate within its ranks, the prime minister should consider appointing a professional outside politics to take charge of education.
Both Fadhlina and Roland Sagah have several supporting staff and I would like to know why they have not communicated or arranged for the requested meeting.
Former education minister Maszlee MalikWhy is it so difficult to fix a date for a meeting?
Even if the ministers’ aides are non-performers, it does not take a few minutes for a minister to pick up the phone and call his or her counterpart to discuss relevant matters.
Mere courtesy dictates that one should do so in response to a request.
According to Roland Sagah, he has pressing matters, such as dilapidated schools in Sarawak and the appointment of headmasters and principals, to discuss with Fadhlina.
In this case, the onus is on the federal minister to respond.
It will be 48 hours since this article is published and Fadhlina has not responded to Roland Sagah’s claim that the former has not bothered to meet her Sarawak counterpart since assuming office last December.
Honestly, I find this incident strange and I don’t like it one bit to know that this young unity government has such a ridiculous issue of “a minister who cannot get to meet a fellow minister”. Why is this even happening?
I hope such an incident will not recur at regular intervals at the federal or state level. Ministers have to put aside personal preferences or interests when it comes to carrying out their ministerial duties.
Ministers must understand that meeting colleagues is important for effective teamwork, collaboration, information exchange, problem-solving, relationship building and mutual support among them.
It helps create a cohesive and efficient working environment, benefiting both individual ministers and the government as a whole. - Mkini
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at [email protected].
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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