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The Shadow Cabinet of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was established on 26 September 2018. The purpose of this Shadow Cabinet is to provide a check and balance role for Mahathir Mohamad's Pakatan Harapan coalition, which formed a government (with the confidence and supply of WARISAN and UPKO) on 10 May 2018.

History

Barisan Nasional (BN), under the second-term leadership of then UMNO president Najib Razak, was defeated in the 14th General Election and became the Opposition in the Parliament for the first time in Malaysian history. Rembau Member of Parliament (MP) Khairy Jamaluddin promised a shadow cabinet if he was elected UMNO president. He made such a promise to demonstrate the ability of BN to be a formidable opposition in the Parliament. But the majority of UMNO divisions elected former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as president. He was later formalised by the Parliament as Leader of the Opposition replacing current Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Khairy continued to call for the establishment of a shadow cabinet from Zahid despite being defeated in the UMNO presidential election. Khairy had even claimed that BN has established a shadow cabinet and its MPs were given portfolios, which was confirmed by UMNO secretary-general, Ketereh MP Annuar Musa, on 26 July. However, this claim was dismissed by Zahid on 4 August.

In previous parliamentary terms, Malaysia has never had a shadow cabinet. Then Pakatan Rakyat leader Anwar Ibrahim appointed a Frontbench Committee in the 12th Parliament, and DAP appointed spokespersons among MPs in the 13th Parliament, but never a full shadow cabinet.

Details

Barisan Nasional (BN), as the largest opposition coalition in the Parliament, established a Shadow Cabinet on 26 September 2018. Each portfolio established in this Shadow Cabinet will also be comprising three professionals connected to their fields, including Women and Youth members, who will be elected at a later date.

This Shadow Cabinet is the first-ever to be formed in the history of Malaysia, by the largest opposition coalition of Barisan Nasional consisting of UMNO, MIC and MCA. This Shadow Cabinet is led by Leader of the Opposition Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and applies the Portfolio Committee system. The sole Member of Parliament (MP) from the PBRS is the only other representative even though UMNO Secretary-General Annuar Musa has encouraged MPs from the Sarawak Parties Alliance, Malaysian Islamic Party and United Alliance (Sabah) to join the committee.

The only portfolio from the actual Cabinet of Malaysia not to have a counterpart in this Shadow Cabinet is National Unity and Social Well-being.

As of 14 December 2018, the Shadow Cabinet consists of the 38 following opposition MPs:

  UMNO (36)   MCA (1)   MIC (1)

Cluster 1: Prime Minister's Office, Law, Human Resources and Security

Cluster 2: Finance, the Economy and Industry

Cluster 3: Education, Social and Culture

Cluster 4: Infrastructure, Technology and Health

Changes

1. Kudat MP, Abd Rahim Bakri (UMNO) left the party on 12 December 2018 and became an independent; and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.
2. Libaran MP, Zakaria Mohd. Edris (UMNO) left the party on 12 December 2018 and became an independent; and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.
3. Beluran MP, Dr. Ronald Kiandee (UMNO) left the party on 12 December 2018 and became an independent; and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.
4. Pensiangan MP, Arthur Joseph Kurup (PBRS), together with other six (6) Sabah UMNO MP had officially left Barisan Nasional on 12 December 2018; and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.
5. Larut MP, Hamzah Zainudin left the party on 14 December 2018 and became an independent; and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.
6. Tanah Merah MP, Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (UMNO) left the party on 14 December 2018 and became an independent; and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.
7. Cameron Highlands MP, Sivarajjh Chandran (MIC) was nullified by Election Courts his victory of 2018 General Election in Cameron Highlands on 30 November 2018, which later his seat was declared as VACANT, for the offence of bribery, vote-buying and corrupt practices committed to induce voters; and therefore, disqualified automatically from the Shadow Cabinet.
8. Beaufort MP, Azizah Mohd. Dun (UMNO) left the party on 12 December 2018 and became an independent; and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.
9. Sipitang MP, Yamani Hafez Musa (UMNO) left the party on 12 December 2018 and became an independent; and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.
10. Tasek Gelugor MP, Shabudin Yahaya (UMNO) left the party on 14 December 2018 and became an independent; and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.
11. Sabak Bernam MP, Mohamad Fasiah Mohd. Fakeh (UMNO) left the party on 14 December 2018 and became an independent; and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.
12. Mersing MP, Dr. Abd. Latiff Ahmad (UMNO) left the party on 14 December 2018 and became an independent; and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.
13. Hulu Terengganu MP, Rosol Wahid (UMNO) left the party on 14 December 2018 and became an independent; and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.
14. Labuan MP Rozman Isli (UMNO) switched allegiance to WARISAN on 11 October 2018 and therefore, exited the Shadow Cabinet.

See also

• Seventh Mahathir cabinet
• Cabinet of Malaysia
• Shadow Cabinet of Malaysia

References

1. "BN umum kabinet bayangan". Free Malaysia Today (in Malay). 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
2. "Malaysia's first ever shadow cabinet unveiled". TODAYonline. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
3. "Malaysia's opposition forms shadow Cabinet to play check and balance role on PH policies". The Straits Times. 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
4. ^ Aswad, Mohd. Noor (2018-08-04). "KJ: BN's shadow cabinet will be a formidable opposition to the ruling PH government". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
5. Kow, Gah Chie (2018-07-26). "BN to announce 'shadow cabinet' next week, says Annuar". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
6. Choong, Jerry (2018-08-04). "Opposition Leader Zahid dismisses Shadow Cabinet call". Yahoo! News Singapore. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
7. Martin, Brian (2018-06-29). "Wanted: A strong shadow Cabinet". The Star. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
8. ^ Aswad, Mohd. Noor (2018-09-26). "Annuar Musa reveals BN's shadow cabinet". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
9. "BN forms Shadow Cabinet, first in Malaysia's history". Borneo Post. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
10. "BN unveils shadow cabinet, Najib not in it". Malaysiakini. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
11. Lee, Stephanie (2018-10-11). "Labuan MP quits Umno to join Warisan". The Star. Retrieved 2018-10-11.

• Malaysian shadow cabinets
• Politics of Malaysia