KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 — The first review of the Cabinet is likely to take place in November as Datuk Seri Najib Razak seeks to shake up his administration and persuade Malaysians that he is serious about accountability and performance.
Government sources told The Malaysian Insider that the Prime Minister would be assessing his Cabinet members based on their ministerial responsibilities as well as their understanding and commitment to his vision for the country.
"The PM feels that he has only 18 months to win over the public and cannot afford to carry any passengers in his Cabinet. Some of the underperformers will be given a warning or may be moved to different portfolios.
"Dropping someone from the Cabinet is an option on the table but it will be the last resort," said a government official who is privy to discussions in Putrajaya.
He added that the November review would take place simultaneously with the completion of key performance index (KPI) reports for each ministry. After becoming the PM in April, Najib announced that he would introduce KPI benchmarks for each ministry.
Since then, consultants McKinsey and Co have been paid several million ringgit to help draw up KPIs for the government, and the administration has engaged public relations consultants to spin positive stories about the KPI initiative.
Still, Najib knows that spin can only get his administration so far. Privately, he is concerned over the lacklustre performance of several of his ministers, noting that they have not exhibited the level of drive, energy or innovation expected of a new administration.
A few of them seem to be championing causes or positions which run counter to his vision of Malaysia as a modern, progressive nation.
He expected the ministers to craft new policy initiatives that will boost Malaysia's competitiveness and also push the 1 Malaysia agenda. Instead, several members of his Cabinet members have been stuck in the old game of seeing everything through the prism of race.
The government source noted: "The PM is aware that Malaysia is facing a tough challenge from our neighbours, especially Indonesia. The perception among investors is that Indonesia has got its act together while we are still stuck in this never-ending cycle of politics and race issues.
"And yet we are talking about censorship, beer and other issues which have little to do with the competitiveness of the country."
Najib is likely to run through the 1 Malaysia concept with his ministers at the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, his last before he leaves for a week-long break abroad.
He is scheduled to remind the ministers that Malaysia's future as a advanced economy and progressive nation can only be secured if government leaders rise above race-based politics.
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