Faizal's appointment as PM's special advisor not necessary - MPs

6 Aug 2021

By Nur Syafiqah Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR: The news of Datuk Ahmad Faizal Azumu's appointment as Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's special advisor that came in yesterday received a heavy blow from several MPs.

The MPs from the Opposition bloc opined that such a ministerial-level appointment at times like this was not necessary.

Kuching MP Kelvin Yii stated he was saddened by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government whose priority is to use public funds to pay and promote "more of [its] people".

In his Twitter posting, he said: "Thousands of lives being lost, even more losing their jobs and struggle to put food on the table, our front liners underpaid, and overworked especially during this pandemic... but yet the priority of this government is to use public funds to pay and 'promote' more of his own people."

Meanwhile, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil said there are already several ministries that could execute the tasks given to Ahmad Faizal and there is no need for such an appointment.

"We have a Minister of National Unity for unity matters, a Minister of Communication and Multimedia for communication, a Minister of Economic affairs for socio-economy.

"(We also have) a Menteri Pembangunan Luar Bandar, Minister of Entrepreneur Development... Does Mahiaddin (Muhyiddin) not have enough advice?" asked Fahmi.

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh also asserted that there are too many ministerial posts in the PN cabinet.

"There are too many positions, but the PN Cabinet barely does anything. Not a single job is done. If contract doctors and hospitals can be upgraded like a speed of light such as this, Covid-19 cases would have downed to zero as well!" she said on her Twitter.

Also having the same viewpoint is MP Bakri Yeo Bee Yin who feels that there are too many positions in the Cabinet right now.

"Wow, a ministerial-level advisor; a very creative appointment. After the appointment of the Deputy Prime Minister and Senior Minister, now, the ministerial-level advisor. So many ministers," she stated.

Former Prime Minister Datuk Najib Razak has also voiced out on the matter, however in a sarcastic way.

"(Faizal is) My companion (who sits) next to me at the Dewan Rakyat. Congratulations, bro.

"This is what the people want when the government cannot afford to supply body containers to take turns in government hospitals at the height of the pandemic crisis. Another Minister," said the Pekan MP.

The appointment of Faizal was announced by the Prime Minister Office (PMO) via a press statement yesterday.

According to the Office, he will be responsible for advising Muhyiddin on matters of community networking, community communication and socio-economic development.

Faizal is the Deputy President of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and MP for Tambun.

He was also the Menteri Besar for Perak before he resigned after losing the motion of confidence in the Perak state assembly last year.