According to DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook, Ramkarpal believed that it was not suitable for him and Gobind to serve as a minister and a deputy minister at the same time.
“We thank Ramkarpal for his contribution in drafting law reforms and new laws, but he decided to vacate his position to leave no room for critics to accuse DAP of practising nepotism,” Loke said at a press conference here.
Ramkarpal and V Sivakumar were the two DAP leaders dropped from the lineup of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ministers and deputy ministers earlier today.
Gobind was appointed as the digital minister, one of the latest additions to the Cabinet following the reshuffle. Sivakumar’s post was taken over by now-former deputy finance minister Steven Sim.
Gobind said he would meet with communications minister Fahmi Fadzil tomorrow to discuss both ministries’ portfolios. He said he would need a few days before going public with his plans for the ministry.
The communications and digital ministry was one of the two ministries split into two during today’s reshuffle. The natural resources, environment and climate change ministry has also been separated into the energy transition and public utilities ministry and the natural resources and sustainability ministry.
Separately, Sim said he hoped his previous experience at the finance ministry would help him in his new role. He said Sivakumar would be meeting him tomorrow for a handover of duties.
Meanwhile, Loke dismissed concerns that DAP chairman and former finance minister Lim Guan Eng would influence his sister Lim Hui Ying after her appointment to the deputy finance minister’s post earlier today.
Hui Ying was reassigned as the deputy finance minister from her previous role as the deputy education minister. Guan Eng was the finance minister during the Pakatan Harapan administration from 2018 to 2020.
Loke, who is the transport minister, said any major decision would be decided collectively by the Cabinet, which comprised representatives from all the unity government’s component parties.
“A government policy is not decided by a particular minister, much less a deputy minister,” said Loke.
“That sort of perception is unfounded and completely untrue as no single person can dictate policies.
“All policies must be well thought out, well articulated, and discussed by the Cabinet before they can be implemented.”
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