KUALA LUMPUR: Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa today revealed Barisan Nasional's (BN) shadow cabinet which uses the portfolio committee system for each ministry within the government.
"The shadow cabinet will be like the Westminster Model (England) but with our own imprint.
“Umno with the cooperation with BN component parties have set up this shadow cabinet using a portfolio committee system to shadow every ministry under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference at Menara Dato Onn, here, today, Annuar said each committee would be made up of two BN members of Parliament.
These MPs would then elect three professionals connected to their fields, including Women and Youth members.
“The committee will act as check and balance for each government ministry.
“It will also act as a policy watch and also to form alternative policies to the government,” he said.
Annuar said the portfolio committee's first job was to contribute to the formation of an alternative budget which would be led by Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin.
Khairy is also the MP in charge of the Finance portfolio.
Four MPs from BN component parties; MIC, MCA and PBRS, have also been made portfolio committee members.
“We are also inviting PAS to join this portfolio but there have been no official discussion yet, just a verbal discussion,” Annuar said.
When asked why Datuk Seri Najib Razak was not in the list, Annuar said the former prime minister declined to get involved.
“Datuk Najib has declined to be part of the committee and this has been agreed upon by everyone in Umno,” he said.
There are currently some 54 members in the committee and the number is expected to grow.
Among those in the list are Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Gua Musang parliamentarian Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who will be shadowing the Prime Minister's department.