PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob should just do away with his Cabinet and rely on special advisers to administer the country instead, said DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.
“These appointments are basically ‘sinecure’, just like many other ‘duds’ appointed to our Government-linked companies (GLC).
“In addition, we also have special envoys appointed when there are already ambassadors dispatched to every country, leading to a ridiculous situation where we have a Special Envoy to the Middle East who cannot visit Saudi Arabia,” he said, in a statement.
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdul Latif Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat that the prime minister is in the midst of finding a special adviser for health issues.
As of now, Ismail Sabri has two advisers as in Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said (human rights) and Kedah Umno chief Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom (Islamic Affairs).
In addition, four special envoys had also been appointed, which are Special Envoy to the Middle East (Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang), Special Envoy to China (Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing) Special Envoy to East Asia (Datuk Seri Richard Riot) and Special Envoy to South Asia (Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran).
On that note, Lim reminded the public that Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin himself has a special adviser of his own; former Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin.
“So, are we going to see each 31 ministers appointing special advisers of their own, shadowing the Cabinet team?
“If that ever happens, we can call off weekly Cabinet meetings and replace it with weekly special advisers’ meetings instead,” the Iskandar Puteri lawmaker said in a jest. – Dec 3, 2021.
