KUALA LUMPUR: Analysts believe that the return of familiar faces in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's federal cabinet line-up will bode well in terms of ensuring continuity in Malaysia's battle against the pandemic.
They believe that despite allegations that it was a "recycled cabinet", relying on personalities who are familiar with the progress thus far and pairing them with new faces keen to make their mark might be the right strategy.
They said given that the country was now facing its worst health and economic crises, continuity from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration might be key towards helping the nationovercome its woes.
National Professors Council chairman Professor Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said an effective team was necessary to ensure progress, especially on reducing the number of new daily cases and deaths, as well as the success of the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP).
"This new government is facing the same problems the previous administration did.
"We are still in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic and Putrajaya's newest residents must have continuity.
"For example, by (including) Khairy Jamaluddin back (into the cabinet as health minister), it is akin to sending him to meet old colleagues, which means we can expect all the necessary work to start soon since they were already doing it together recently.
"The appointments of old and new faces will complement each other because the experienced will have to step up their game, while the others can provide the much-needed boost to ministers handling key portfolios," he told the New Straits Times.
Professor Dr Jeniri Amir, who is senior fellow of the National Professors Council, said reappointing ministers who had performed in the PN cabinet would ensure continuity.
Jeniri also addressed the criticism that Ismail Sabri should not have maintained a "bloated cabinet", arguing that this was important to ensure the survival of the current government until the 15th General Election.
He said Ismail Sabri had repositioned those who performed in the PN cabinet into his new lineup by putting them in the "right places" without disrupting much the setting of the last cabinet.
"He appointed Khairy as the health minister based on his previous performance (as NIP coordinating minister) without affecting the four senior minister positions.
"Continuity is the keyword. Ismail Sabri did his best to balance the appointments of leaders from political parties by (handling) the crisis within Umno itself and, at the same time, maintaining ties with his allies.
"The prime minister has to ensure that there won't be any unnecessary tension and conflict among his allies because this cabinet has to be functional and able to tackle all major issues."
Echoing a similar view was Universiti Malaya's Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi, who said appeasing his allies was Ismail Sabri's best bet at ensuring his government's survival.
"The new cabinet is basically like pouring wine into new bottles, (but) the appointment of Tan Sri Annuar Musa (as communications and multimedia minister), for example, is seen as a good move as he is a better spokesperson for PN.
"The appointment of Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu as a full minister, on the other hand, will appease Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia since he is the party deputy president," he said.
As for Ismail Sabri's support within Umno, Shamsul Amri said the combination of experienced and less-experienced Umno leaders within the cabinet would expand Ismail Sabri's influence in the party.
"Ismail Sabri is the first Umno prime minister who is not sitting in the Umno president's chair. Therefore, he needs the backing of the veterans in the party to bolster his support," he said.
Ismail Sabri yesterday unveiled his cabinet line-up comprising 31 ministers and 38 deputies.
He did not name a deputy prime minister, instead appointing four senior ministers out of the 31 ministers.