PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim faced another wave of criticism with netizens branding the appointment of her daughter-cum-former Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah as the PM’s senior economic and financial advisor “an act of nepotism”.
While Pakatan Harapan (PH) supporters applauded Nurul Izzah’s appointment, citing her decent track record as a three-term MP (two in Lembah Pantai and one in Permatang Pauh), the social media sphere is divided with some strongly opposing her appointment regardless of if it is on pro-bono or voluntarily basis.
Famous cartoonist Fahmi Reza joined the chorus of criticism in his latest cartoon where he reinterpreted Anwar’s concept of “Madani” to include the word “nepotism” which is represented by the letter “N”.
However, netizen Pemikir Malaysia (@pemikirmsia) supported Nurul Izzah’s appointment, claiming that she “has more integrity in her little finger than all of PN (Perikatan Nasional) combined.”
“She’s working pro bono (free-of-charge) as an ‘advisor’. An advisor is a person who gives advice. An advisor cannot make decisions or decide on policy. No salary, no perks. What is the conflict?”
His tweet received more than 147,900 views at the time of writing with ‘tonnes’ of comments, both in favour and opposing of his view.
For context, Anwar has defended the appointment of his daughter Nurul Izzah which he made on Jan 3 without public announcement by emphasising that she is working pro bono and not receiving any allowances and that she is qualified for the position.
Anwar stated that the appointment of Nurul Izzah as his senior economic and financial advisor was based on her qualifications. He highlighted that she has a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a second degree in public and social policy from Johns Hopkins University in the US.
Responding to criticism regarding Nurul Izzah’s qualifications, Anwar stated that he did not have a finance-related degree yet he served as the Finance Minister for eight years in the 1990s. He questioned if a health minister has to be a doctor and a water minister to be an engineer.
Bigsnorlax (@Bigsnorlax1985) in replying to @pemikirmsia asked how the latter would respond if “the current PM is Zahid, Hadi Awang, Najib, Ismail Sabri or Tun (Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Tan Sri Hadi Awang, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad)?”
“I wonder how would you argue then? It’s not about Nurul or pro bono; (I) like her a lot & she could be doing a great job. This is about conflict of interest and nepotism. Be fair & don’t switch the goalpost! Don’t be taksub (obsessed).”
As for Lutfí (@Lutflyy), he sees a conflict of interest in the appointment. “The conflict is appointing your family. It’s an unwritten rule that EVERYONE knows. Yes, she is definitely qualified for the position and would contribute. But the way it was done and the timing of it (after UMNO sacking) couldn’t be more awful.”
Another netizen TheOracle اوراكل (@nomadOrc) related the appointment of Nurul Izzah to the “self-appointment” of ex-PM Najib Razak’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
“Anwar supposedly has no salary, too, but accorded with all the powers of a PM. Including the right to give RM2 mil donation outright. A senior economic advisor will be accorded with powers within the JPM (PM’s Departmenr), very much like Rosmah as the self-appointed, ‘salary-less’ FLOM (First Lady of Malaysia).”
Yet, netizen nfauzani (@nfauzani2) came to Nurul Izzah;s defence, arguing “Sadly, Izzah as Anwar’s daughter cannot hold any position so long as Anwar is the 10th PM. So, we will lose the talent and the capability. People won’t see Izzah as Izzah even though she qualified, etc.” – Jan 30, 2023
Main pic credit: The Edge
