The Dayaks representation at the Malaysian Cabinet

Firstly, the hope of East Malaysians is left with only Tan Sri Bernard Dompok as a minister in the Prime Minister’s Dept. Previously the East Malaysians have a few MPs in the dept. Anyway, one is better than none - looking at how our PM strategies his Cabinet to counter the people’s vote in the recent election.

We will of course miss the Iron Lady (Rafidah Aziz) and a few Tun Mahathir men. Nevertheless, there is hope for the Dayaks with this MPs holding the respective positions in the respective ministries.

KEMENTERIAN SUMBER ASLI DAN ALAM SEKITAR
Menteri : Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas (PBB)
Timbalan Menteri : Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh

KEMENTERIAN TENAGA, AIR DAN KOMUNIKASI
Menteri : Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor
Timbalan : Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum (PRS)

KEMENTERIAN PERDAGANGAN ANTARABANGSA DAN INDUSTRI
Menteri : Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Timbalan : Datuk Liew Vui Keong
Timbalan : Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan (SPDP)

KEMENTERIAN PERDAGANGAN DALAM NEGERI DAN HAL EHWAL PENGGUNA
Menteri : Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad
Timbalan : Jelaing anak Mersat (SPDP)

KEMENTERIAN KEMAJUAN LUAR BANDAR DAN WILAYAH
Menteri : Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib
Timbalan : Tan Sri Joseph Kurup
Timbalan : Joseph Entulu Belaun (PRS)

The other Sarawakian MPs who are in the Cabinet are as follows:

KEMENTERIAN PERUSAHAAN PERLADANGAN DAN KOMODITI
Menteri : Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui (SUPP)
Timbalan : A Kohilan Pillay (senator)

KEMENTERIAN KERJA RAYA
Menteri : Datuk Ir. Mohd Zin Mohamed
Timbalan : Datuk Yong Khoon Seng (SUPP)

KEMENTERIAN PERTANIAN DAN INDUSTRI ASAS TANI
Menteri : Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
Timbalan : Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim (PBB)

KEMENTERIAN SAINS TEKNOLOGI DAN INOVASI
Menteri : Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili
Timbalan : Fadillah Yusof (PBB)

KEMENTERIAN PERUMAHAN DAN KERAJAAN TEMPATAN
Menteri : Datuk Ong Ka Chuan
Timbalan : Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew (SUPP)
Timbalan : Datuk Hamzah Zainudin

KEMENTERIAN PELANCONGAN
Menteri : Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said
Timbalan Menteri : Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib (PBB)

My thoughts
With Datuk Seri Sulaiman in the Tourism Ministry, it is a boost towards Sarawak’s drive for more tourist in the coming years. With the improvement in rural air service and the presence of Idris Jala at the top of Malaysia Airlines, the tourism industry in Sarawak should see a boom.

More cleaner toilets are in place in our public areas. The awareness is still far from satisfactory in Sarawak and we hope Datuk Robert Lau will work harder in all corners of Sarawak and not confine to Sibu alone (as of now). Haven’t heard of him checking Miri public toilets yet.

The East Malaysians are driving the next man to space - Dr. Maximus and Fadillah, how about bring the two angkasawan to East Malaysia.. that would be good to kick start your new portfolio.

Before the election, I heard of rumours that Datuk Mustapa Mohamed have some Iban roots from Sarawak.. Did his ancestor really were those Ibans who sail across the South China Sea to Kelantan and never came back home? Well, with the growing interest in bio-diesel and the recent signing ceremony to set up one bio-diesel plant in Sarawak, it is high time that we verify Datuk Mustapa’s Iban roots.

Datuk Yong is back in his old office but with a new boss. And, yes.. our sinking roads in Miri need to be address. With YB Andy Chia and Datuk Yong are in the same party.. hmm, can we see some quick result, YB?

More of my views later.. its late and my eyes are sleepy.