Ambiga Sreenevasan said this was needed to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, which was the issue that was “bothering people the most”.

“Once you bring competent people to deal with the issue and the economy, it will make people feel better,” she said in an interview on Astro Awani tonight.

She said people were feeling terrible right now and there was a need for the government to work for the people.

“And I hope he (Dzulkefly) will accept it.”

Ambiga proposed Dzulkefly when expressing hope that Ismail would “reach across the aisle” to the opposition.

Dzulkefly, who is currently part of the Selangor Covid-19 task force, was the health minister when Pakatan Harapan was in power.

On a related matter, Ambiga dismissed the idea of a “honeymoon period” for a new prime minister.

“I’m sorry, we’re in a crisis and expectations are high. The disappointment over the manner in which the pandemic was handled is also very palpable,” she said, adding that Ismail has an “uphill task.”

However, the way to address the people’s fears is by bringing in the right people. This, she said, would also force the opposition to work with the government.

“Rather than a full blown unity government, he can bring in talented individuals from the opposition and his (Ismail) life would be easier. But it requires statesmanship.”