KUALA LUMPUR – Not a full minister but a newly appointed deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), M. Kulasegaran is eager to start work on a subject that is close to his heart.
“Law reform, justice, and fairness are things I have been advocating for personally, as well as through DAP,” Kulasegaran told Scoop when contacted yesterday.
A lawyer by profession, Kulasegaran, had just taken his oath at Istana Negara and will attend his first post-cabinet meeting tomorrow, chaired by minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
“I am very happy to be working with Azalina. Just like me, she is also passionate about law reform.
“My expertise is law reform and institutional improvements, so I am certain I can be of significant assistance to the minister to help the Madani government fulfil its promise of reforms,” said the Ipoh Barat MP.
Kulasegaran was the human resources minister in Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s cabinet from 2018 to 2020.
Asked about his new position, Kulasegaran said it does not matter to him that he is not a full minister.
“It is not an issue at all. I go where I am needed and where the party wants me to go.
“In this case, the party needed someone like me to assist in delivering the prime minister’s reform agenda.
“I am a soldier of the party, and I go where I am asked to go. Positions are not permanent anyway,” said the DAP vice-chairman, who thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the appointment.
“I’m grateful that I have been given the trust and opportunity to contribute to the unity government,” he said.
Kulasegaran was widely expected to take over from V. Sivakumar, who was dropped following controversies in his ministry that were subject to investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
However, Deputy Finance Minister and DAP national organising secretary Steven Sim was instead promoted to human resources minister.
Kulasegaran said former full ministers taking on deputy minister roles is nothing new, as former higher education minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad is now the deputy women, family and community development minister.
“In other countries, even former prime ministers have returned to the cabinet as ministers or senior ministers. Look at the UK. David Cameron just returned as foreign secretary,” he said.
“We have to adapt to the needs of the time and serve in whatever capacity is required of us,” Kulasegaran added. – December 13, 2023