Zaid Ibrahim a Minister in the PM’s Department!

Remember Zaid Ibrahim, the conscience of Umno?
skthew.com

Remember how he was dropped as a candidate to defend his Kota Baru parliamentary seat?

He is now appointed as Minister in the PM’s Department!

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Zaid is appointed to take care of law-affairs and gives suggestions on how to reform the Malaysia’s judiciary system.

He will be sworn in a Senator while the SIL Khairy Jamaluddin is not among the candidates appointed into the cabinet.

Big names like S Samy Vellu, Ong Ka Ting and Rafidah Aziz are excluded, in the exception of Nazri Aziz who is now re-appointed as in the similar role as Zaid.

Besides, two candidates from Perlis Radzi Sheik Ahmad and Azmi Khalid, who were seen as making a move against the appointment of Shahidan Kassim as the Perlis MB, together with Jamaluddin Jarjis were dropped too.

Generally, ministries are cut down from 32 to 27, only 17 ministers have been retained and only five of those in their old portfolios.

MCA secretary general Ong ka Chuan is appointed as housing and local government minister replacing his brother and MCA president Ong Ka Ting, vice-president Ong Tee Keat is transport minister, Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai is appointed health minister while Women’s wing chief Ng Yen Yen is women, family and development minister.

MIC failed to retain its control over the works ministry and party’s secretary-general S Subramaniam has been appointed human resources minister.

As for Gerakan, its Wanita chief Tan Lian Hoe is made Deputy Information Minister.

Pak Lah has awaken? We shall see as the PM said he wasn’t under any pressure in picking the candidates.

But I’m pondering over the inclusion of Mat Tyson a.k.a Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

Why?

Click here to find the full list of 2008 cabinet.