TOKYO:Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's choice of a popular minister to handle the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine is largely a move to boost rapidly-sinking support rates, but may also aim to neutralize a strong rival for his job.
Suga's appointment of Taro Kono, Japan's administrative reform minister, to coordinate preparations for delivering the vaccine comes as his four-month-old government is hit by widespread criticism and plunging support rates over its handling of the virus as a vital election looms later this year.
With recent polls showing support around 34 percent compared to 74 percent after he took office, there are already mutterings in political circles about getting rid of Suga, seen a sharp backroom operator but a poor communicator, unable to effectively marshal citizens to fight the most lethal wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
"I think it's a possibility that it's sort of Suga giving a poisoned chalice to Kono, because of course he's an obvious candidate for succession and Suga is very much aware that there's open discussion about his replacement already," said Koichi Nakano, a political science professor at Sophia University.
The job of coordinating between ministries responsible for vaccination is likely to be tricky, but given the high-profile nature of the job and Kono's ambitions, refusing wasn't possible.
"This is a way Suga can tie Kono's political ambitions with his own .... He can ensure that Kono will be working for him for his own political advancement," Nakano said.
The outspoken Kono, who boasts a large social media following and has vowed to abolish inefficiencies such as personal seals and fax machines, was the peoples' first choice for prime minister in an opinion poll released this week.
"Kono's extremely popular and he's regarded as being quite effective, while Suga's government is losing support and he's trying to save things," said Tomoaki Iwai, a political science professor at Nihon University.
"Kono is good at communicating. People will listen to him."
Many in the LDP, the ruling party, remain wary of the overseas-educated Kono, 58 and a former foreign and defence minister known for his diplomatic experience - a weakness of Suga's.
Kono told Reuters in an interview last week the Tokyo Olympics may not go ahead this summer as Suga's government has pledged.
"We need to do the best we can to prepare for the Games at this moment, but it could go either way," Kono said, setting off a fury of damage control.
Kono on Tuesday was warier, saying only he'd do his utmost so as many citizens as possible could be inoculated as early as possible. Japan, which has yet to approve any vaccine, aims to start at the end of February.
Public opinion on the appointment was divided, with some on social media hailing the move but a majority more cynical.
"Suga is simply using Kono to boost his own support," wrote one Twitter user.
Reuters
Tue Jan 19 2021
![New appointment by Japan's Suga on vaccinations may boost support, neutralise rival New appointment by Japan's Suga on vaccinations may boost support, neutralise rival](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-01/71611041060_TOKYO.jpg)
With recent polls showing support around 34 per cent compared to 74 per cent after he took office, there are already mutterings in political circles about getting rid of Suga. REUTERSpic
![Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000 Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705134_TBAhLong.jpg)
Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000
Seorang orang suruhan ah long mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan menyimbah cat merah di rumah keluarga peminjam, Januari lalu.
![Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705177_TBMyREF.jpg)
Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf
Lebih daripada 30 asnaf bersama ahli keluarga mereka telah diraikan di Majlis Graduasi MyREF Hijrahpreneur Skills Program (MyREF HSP) di Auditorium High Impact Research, Universiti Malaya.
![Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723704577_RusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol
Polis telah mengenal pasti seorang pemain bola sepak yang ditahan kerana membawa kerambit ke padang bola, sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol di sebuah pusat hiburan di ibu negara.
![Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723703465_TBperkeso.jpg)
Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan
Bernama dan Perkeso menandatangani MoU bagi memperluas perlindungan sosial kepada pengamal media sambilan (stringers) melalui Skim Keselamatan Sosial Pekerjaan Sendiri (SKSPS).
![RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723701143_TBastro.jpg)
RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif
RADIO 360 merentasi 11 stesen radio Astro yang boleh diakses di aplikasi SYOK termasuk Era, Sinar, Gegar, Hitz, Mix, My dan Raaga.
AWANI Ringkas: Pemain bola bawa kerambit juga suspek baling bom petrol
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723702959_TBMahkamahSesyen.jpg)
Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China
Sepasang suami isteri dan empat individu didakwa menculik seorang lelaki warga China untuk mendapatkan wang tebusan berbentuk mata wang kripto.
![Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61722341186_BursaMalaysia.jpg)
Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia
Bursa Malaysia menggantung jualan singkat SP Setia Bhd bagi baki tempoh hari ini selepas penyusutan harga yang ketara.
![MITI mula siasat duti antilambakan import gulungan rata besi disadur timah MITI mula siasat duti antilambakan import gulungan rata besi disadur timah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723697210_TBMiti.jpg)
MITI mula siasat duti antilambakan import gulungan rata besi disadur timah
MITI menjelaskan tindakan itu diputuskan selepas menerima petisyen daripada pengeluar tempatan, Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Bhd.
!['Nidza Afham pernah cakap mahu jadi terkenal, tapi bukan macam ini' - Kakak 'Nidza Afham pernah cakap mahu jadi terkenal, tapi bukan macam ini' - Kakak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723700126_NidzaAfhammeningg.jpg)
'Nidza Afham pernah cakap mahu jadi terkenal, tapi bukan macam ini' - Kakak
Kakak kepada Allahyarham penyanyi Nidza Afham iaitu Irfahanie memaklumkan adiknya itu pernah berhasrat untuk menjadi penyanyi terkenal.
![Kabinet PM Jepun Suga letak jawatan Kabinet PM Jepun Suga letak jawatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-10/41633324056_PrimeMinisterYoshi.jpg)
Kabinet PM Jepun Suga letak jawatan
Kabinet pimpinan Yoshihide Suga telah menerajui pentadbiran sejak September 2020.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/71627839251_BAP.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![PM Jepun Yoshihide Suga bakal letak jawatan PM Jepun Yoshihide Suga bakal letak jawatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/61620619507_YoshihideSuga.jpg)
PM Jepun Yoshihide Suga bakal letak jawatan
Suga juga dilaporkan tidak akan mempertahankan kedudukannya sebagai ketua parti LDP.
![COVID-19: Polisi kuarantin di rumah timbulkan reaksi berbeza dalam kalangan rakyat Jepun COVID-19: Polisi kuarantin di rumah timbulkan reaksi berbeza dalam kalangan rakyat Jepun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/41628075617_TOKYO.jpg)
COVID-19: Polisi kuarantin di rumah timbulkan reaksi berbeza dalam kalangan rakyat Jepun
Ada yang berpendapat, sekiranya pesakit mengalami simptom yang tidak serius, mereka selesa untuk dikuarantin di rumah.
![Olimpik: Hanya tiga daripada 8,000 yang tiba di Tokyo positif COVID-19 Olimpik: Hanya tiga daripada 8,000 yang tiba di Tokyo positif COVID-19](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-06/81623251581_olimpik.jpg)
Olimpik: Hanya tiga daripada 8,000 yang tiba di Tokyo positif COVID-19
Ketiga-tiga individu yang diuji positif sejurus ketibaan segera telah diasingkan manakala kontak rapat mereka dikuarantin.
![COVID-19: PM Jepun isytihar darurat di Tokyo, Olimpik tanpa penonton COVID-19: PM Jepun isytihar darurat di Tokyo, Olimpik tanpa penonton](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/51625749296_YoshihideSugatoky.jpg)
COVID-19: PM Jepun isytihar darurat di Tokyo, Olimpik tanpa penonton
Langkah tersebut, bakal menyaksikan temasya Olimpik dilangsungkan tanpa penonton di ibu negara berkenaan.
![2 maut, 20 hilang dalam insiden tanah runtuh, banjir lumpur di Jepun 2 maut, 20 hilang dalam insiden tanah runtuh, banjir lumpur di Jepun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/41625345914_mudslide.jpg)
2 maut, 20 hilang dalam insiden tanah runtuh, banjir lumpur di Jepun
Pihak berkuasa mengarahkan beratus-ratus ribu penduduk di tiga daerah berhampiran supaya mengosongkan kediaman di kawasan tanah rendah.
![PM Jepun nafi utamakan sukan Olimpik PM Jepun nafi utamakan sukan Olimpik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/61620619507_YoshihideSuga.jpg)
PM Jepun nafi utamakan sukan Olimpik
Tinjauan pendapat menunjukkan hampir 60 peratus rakyat Jepun mahu sukan Olimpik dibatalkan kurang dari tiga bulan sebelum ia bermula.
![AS dan Jepun perkukuh kerjasama bilateral AS dan Jepun perkukuh kerjasama bilateral](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-10/81603435054_YoshihideSuga.jpg)
AS dan Jepun perkukuh kerjasama bilateral
Amerika Syarikat (AS) dan Jepun memperkukuhkan kerjasama bilateral dua negara.
![Jepun rancang lepas 1 juta tan air terawat loji nuklear Fukushima ke laut Jepun rancang lepas 1 juta tan air terawat loji nuklear Fukushima ke laut](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-04/81618278015_FUKUSHIMA.jpg)
Jepun rancang lepas 1 juta tan air terawat loji nuklear Fukushima ke laut
Yoshihide Suga menegaskan pelepasan air terawat itu selamat kerana telah diproses untuk menyingkirkan hampir semua unsur radioaktif.