Amidst criticism that the slew of political appointments by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration goes against good governance and will undo reforms put in place by the previous Government, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has come out in defence of the Perikatan Nasional move.

As Zahid sees it, the appointment of MPs to head Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) and agencies is to ensure that Putrajaya’s agenda is carried out and to take care of the rakyat’s interest.

Zahid’s remarks are clearly meant to allay public concerns. Whether that has been achieved is an open question. However, a substantial number of Malaysians are in agreement with views, comments and revelations made by Opposition leaders or people seen as their sympathisers.

This is not based on a detailed survey but on random chats with the average Malaysian.

The general feeling from these comments is that critical opinions against the Government should not be brushed aside just because they are made by the Opposition who are “supposed to talk bad about the Government”.

Take DAP leader Teresa Kok’s query about the decision of the Malaysian Rubber Board helmed by its new chairman Datuk Ahmad Nazlan Idris to build an RM100 million rubber technology centre. The centre is to be built in Jerantut district, Pahang, where Umno man Nazlan is serving his second term as its MP.

Kok, who is Seputeh MP, says the project raises many questions and may turn out to be a white elephant.

A former PAS activist who is still very much anti-Pakatan Harapan took to Facebook to say sarcastically that he can’t help but be in awe of the new chairman, who despite being on the job for less than a month, wants to build a RM100 million project.

“He thinks RM100 million is like selling scrap rubber. In Malaysia we already have many international-class rubber research centres, so don’t try to be clever in wanting to come up with a new rubber technology centre. Want to help rubber smallholders or ‘member-member’?” he says, implying cronyism.

All that coming from a pro-Perikatan Nasional person is quite telling.

Nazlan has clarified that the project is “merely at the proposal stage and is undergoing due process and hence has not been approved by the Government”.

But a political observer says the clarification has done little to soothe public fears.

“Questions remain on how such a big project could have been conceptualised in just a month and what more in Jerantut where the newly appointed chairman of the Malaysia Rubber Board is MP,” says the observer.

Veteran journalist Datuk A Kadir Jasin, who is a Bersatu Supreme Council member aligned to former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, also posted on Facebook about political appointments.

Kadir’s attention this time is on the reappointment of Datuk Shaik Hussein Mydin to the board of the Penang Regional Development Board (Perda).

According to Kadir, the Penang deputy Umno chief was appointed to the board as deputy chairman during the Barisan Nasional Government’s rule but was dropped when Pakatan Harapan reconstituted the board with non-politicians in 2018.

Shaik Hussein and four other members of the BN-era board, said Kadir, were sued by Perda in two cases in connection with the sale of two parcels of land belonging to the board.

“In simple language they are being sued in courts for dereliction of duties as members of the board and their failure to carry out their statutory duties. It does not seem proper that while the suits against them are progressing in court Shaik Hussein was reappointed to the Perda board,” said Kadir.

Kadir also highlighted the appointment of Datuk Shabudin Yahaya as Felcra chairman. Shabudin is a two-term Umno MP for Tasik Gelugor who, according to Kadir, was among those sued by Perda.

“It appears the Rural Development Minister Datuk Abdul Latiff Ahmad, who is from Umno, deliberately overlooked the legal suits against the two persons in making the appointments,” said Kadir.

Then there’s concern expressed by Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong of DAP with regards to speculation that certain leaders namely from Umno and Muhyiddin’s camp in Bersatu are said to be considered for the post of Melaka Governor despite being previously implicated with graft.

Many would have read the hard-hitting and sarcastic article by Dennis Ignatius where he said that while millions of Malaysians are facing job losses and pay cuts, the Government is apparently on a hiring spree.

But said Ignatius, “Don’t bother to send in your resume unless you happen to be an MP or a political crony.”

Ignatius, who is a former ambassador, said one big area of job growth is in foreign affairs where three have been appointed special envoys – referring to Marang MP Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (Middle East), Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (China) and Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot (Japan, South Korea and Taiwan). All have ministerial status and therefore perks that come with the appointments are a given. And all three are from parties that are part of the Muhyiddin administration.

The question now is who would be appointed next, asks Iganatius. “After all there’s no shortage of nations and regions that are desperately crying out for a Malaysian special envoy of their own,” he remarks.

Based on all the cases that have been listed here, it would be an understatement to say that the rakyat are concerned.

This brings me to a comment by a political observer: “At a time when the Government is telling people it only wants to focus on containing the COVID-19 pandemic and overcoming the economic crisis, the slew of political appointments for GLCs and special envoys will do little to improve Perikatan Nasional’s credibility.”

I must say he’s right.

Mohsin Abdullah is a contributing editor at The Edge. He has covered politics for more than four decades.