Who Will Replace Ewon At Entrepreneur Ministry

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Speculation is rife on who would become the next entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister following the resignation of Ewon Benedick last month.
Based on a prior arrangement, the ministerial post belongs to Pakatan Harapan, as Ewon was appointed in his capacity as the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president, which was previously a component party of the coalition.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, a source at the Prime Minister’s Department said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is considering several options to balance federal and Sabah political dynamics, and to strengthen Harapan in the state.
“The prime minister wants this decision to align with the strategy for the upcoming 16th general election (GE16), especially in Sabah, which is seen as the most challenging battleground for the coalition government.
“Two options are being considered - either handing the ministry over to Warisan, or giving the job to a Sabah PKR leader,” the source said.
The source added that the first option might offer an advantage in terms of political reconciliation in Sabah, especially after the last state election saw Harapan performing poorly despite working with BN and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (right) with GRS chairperson and Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor“Harapan needs a partner with strong grassroots strength to retain existing parliamentary seats and capture new ones in the upcoming general election.
“And Warisan is one of the options, given that the party remains a major political player in Sabah, winning 25 state seats recently.
“Rumours suggest that either Warisan president Shafie Apdal will be chosen, or his younger brother (Yusof) will be promoted to a full ministerial position,” the source stated.
Yusof currently serves as the deputy science, technology, and innovation minister.
The source also stated that Anwar was quite firm about adding more voices from Sabah and Sarawak in Putrajaya.
‘Not the best idea’
However, a PKR leader who requested anonymity said giving the ministry to Warisan is not necessarily the best strategy for the government.
“We must remember that the ministry quota belongs to Harapan, and Sabah PKR needs strengthening after the recent polls.
“If you ask me, Mustapha Sakmud is one of the most logical names,” said the central PKR leader.
Mustapha currently serves as deputy higher education minister and is also the Sabah PKR chief.
“Elevating Mustapha to a full minister sends a message that the coalition government is serious about strengthening its influence in Sabah, not just relying on external parties,” the source added.
Pessimistic over Ramanan’s prospects
Asked about the chances of Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister R Ramanan being elevated to the job, the source was pessimistic about it.
The source mentioned that Ramanan was recently appointed to head the Special Committee for Indian Affairs, which coordinates issues for the Indian community - including Tamil schools, Hindu places of worship, estate community allocations, and the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra).
Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister R Ramanan“He has just been given a major mandate. The prime minister wants stability in the management of Indian affairs, and an immediate change would not help.
“So, chances of Ramanan becoming a full minister at this time are quite slim,” he said.
The source also mentioned that currently, there is only one full minister from Sabah, who is Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Armizan Ali.
The source added that appointing Ramanan might trigger unhappiness among Sabah voters as there would be no additional representation from the state in the federal cabinet.
Anwar previously said he would discuss with party heads before announcing who would fill the vacancies in his cabinet soon.
The PKR president said that although cabinet appointments are his prerogative, the views of all parties in the Madani government will be taken into account.
“Let me discuss it. Yes, it is the prime minister’s discretion or authority to seek the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consent, but as usual, in a democratic process, we respect the views of our colleagues.
“I will, of course, listen to several views from party chiefs, but I will make the final decision in the near future,” he added.
Apart from the said ministry, there are also other portfolios vacant, such as the economy; natural resources and environmental sustainability; and investment, trade, and industry ministries. - Mkini

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