BY: COLIN GOMEZ

Despite assurances by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI) that the federal Cabinet which was recently appointed is above board, Malaysians, non governmental organizations and other concerned groups are cautious and wary.

There is expected to be a vigilant watch by these Malaysians to ensure that the federal Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers are free from corruption, any abuse of power and authority, display of arrogance and to be innocent of any wrongdoing.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Therefore, there needs to be checks and balances in place and there must be no quarter in government holding sweeping powers as the dictators who governed the nation in the past.

DSAI is now at the helm of power and, while Malaysians are relieved on one hand, on the other hand they are acting as watchdogs and adopting a wait and see attitude over the performance of the federal Cabinet.

There is no doubt that DSAI’s first 100 days in office will be critical and also be an indicator if the unity government will pull through and survive. It will be a defining period for the federal cabinet and they must come to understand that they really must perform well.

The federal Cabinet is a blend of old and new, of novices and seasoned veterans and if they are able to work together for the common good of Malaysians they will be set to stay and New Malaysia can become a reality.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher