KUALA LUMPUR – The unprecedented consolidation of power by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who has assumed eight key portfolios in the state’s executive council (exco), has ignited concerns over potential conflicts of interest and graft, according to the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih).
Bersih chairman Thomas Fann highlighted the inherent risk of a conflict of interest arising due to the interconnectivity of Sanusi’s diverse portfolios.
He also warned that the centralised power an MB has could instead snowball into maladministration.
“The first and most important is (the) conflict of interest between portfolios – especially in Sanusi’s case, where he holds closely related portfolios of land matters, earth resources, state planning, and finance,” he said.
“The over-concentration of executive power in a single person is bad governance and can lead to potential abuse of power and even corruption.”
He went on to propose a cap on the number of roles a menteri besar should hold within a state exco, suggesting that an individual’s ability to effectively manage an array of portfolios is limited.
“We also have to raise the question of expertise, as it is unlikely that a single person can have sufficient knowledge or expertise to handle the many complex and diverse issues of each portfolio,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sanusi’s portfolio allocations prompted a lukewarm response from Selangor exco member Izham Hashim, who expressed astonishment at the public’s endorsement of Sanusi during the state elections.
“The way he talks, the way he behaves, the way he runs the state, and so on. (It’s) unbelievable how Kedahans still voted him (to retain the Jeneri seat),” said Izham, who is former Selangor infrastructure committee chairman.
The swearing-in ceremony of Kedah’s exco line-up this week saw a line-up comprising seven assemblypersons from PAS, three from Bersatu, and one from Gerakan.
It was revealed that Sanusi would hold eight portfolios this term on top of his role as menteri besar.
The portfolios consist of state planning, land affairs, minerals and geoscience, earth resources, finance, GLCs, the state Economic Action Council, and Kedah Development 2035 and external cooperation.
Subsequently, Sanusi defended the number of portfolios he holds, saying that compared to the federal government, a state assembly has fewer members to handle various portfolios.
Currently, Sanusi is the MB with the most portfolios. He is followed by Perak MB Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and Melaka chief minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, with seven each.
In the previous term, Selangor MB Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Negri Sembilan MB Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun both held six portfolios each.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow holds the fewest portfolios, with only three – finance, economic development, and land and communications. – August 22, 2023