Najib looks for skills, ideas, youth to form his cabinet

by **hlk** Thu 16 May 2013, 15:59

Politics & Government 2013
Written by fz.com(content contributor to theedgemalaysia.com)
Thursday, 16 May 2013 12:23
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KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): BN chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Razak announced a new cabinet line-up today with few surprises.
Comprising experienced ministers, technocrats and the young, it is what
Najib called a "balanced" cabinet that will provide continuity, specialised
skills, creative ideas and also a "young flavour" to the administration.
The outcome of the recently-concluded 13th general election underlined
the importance of young voters who want their voices heard and leaders
that understand their needs.
The average age of the members of the cabinet is 57.
In terms of age band, the age group 50-59 has the highest number of
ministers – 17 – among them 55-year-old Datuk Seri Idris Jala who is
retained as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, newlyappointed
Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (58), Datuk Seri
Hishammuddin Hussein (52) who is taking over the defence ministry and
Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek (54) who will be helming the
communication and multimedia ministry.
This is followed by the 60-69 year age band with 12 ministers. The
oldest among them is 68-year-old Tan Sri Joseph Kurup who is made a
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.
At 37, Khairy Jamaluddin is the youngest member of the cabinet. And
his youth is a definite plus for the Rembau MP who is put in charge of the Youth and Sports Ministry. Khairy is also the sole
minister who is in the 30-39 age bracket.
Technocrat Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, 49, and Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, 48, are the two new faces
that are considered "young", being in the 40-49 age band. Abdul Wahid, former CEO and president of Maybank, will be made
a senator to take up a minister's post in the Prime Minister's Department while Abdul Rahman will take up the Urban
Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government portfolio.
Although almost 49% of the Malaysian population are women, there are only two women ministers – 52-year-old Nancy
Shukri who is named Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim, 58, who will head the
Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.