Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has strongly condemned criticism surrounding the appointments of Hannah Yeoh and Lo Su Fui to the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), describing race-based objections as “atrocious” and unacceptable in modern Malaysian politics.
Speaking during a briefing with editors and senior journalists at Seri Perdana today, Anwar said rejecting leaders solely because of their ethnicity was both outdated and damaging to national unity.
“To reject a person because of her colour and race is atrocious in this day and age,” he said, adding that he struggled to understand why such views continued to surface.
Anwar was responding to comments by PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who had criticised Yeoh’s appointment as minister and Lo’s appointment as her deputy, arguing that the move would expand DAP’s influence in Kuala Lumpur and other urban centres.
The prime minister dismissed the claim, stressing that Cabinet members serve the government and its policies, not their respective political parties.
“She represents government policies, not DAP. She represents the government. Likewise, I do not represent PKR, but the government and its policies,” he said.
Anwar emphasised that a minister’s racial background had no bearing on their ability to serve, warning that framing appointments along ethnic lines was politically misguided and harmful.
Under the Cabinet reshuffle announced yesterday, Yeoh was moved from her previous role as youth and sports minister, while Lo, 44, was appointed deputy minister. The reshuffle followed vacancies in several key ministries, including economy, natural resources and environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship development and cooperatives, and investment, trade and industry.
