FORMER Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has sarcastically questioned if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will exploit the opportunity of the worst price escalation of food and basic necessities in history to appoint another special adviser on inflation costing RM50,000 monthly.
This comes after the recent revelation by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad in a parliamentary written reply to Kubang Pasu MP Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah that Ismail Sabri is appointing another ‘special adviser’ on health on top of the two existing special adviser roles to the Prime Minister – on law and human rights as well as religious affairs.
“With inflation at an all-time high for eggs, chickens, bread, vegetables, cooking oil and even ice cubes as well as imported fertilisers, insecticides and construction materials and labour, the Ministers concerned have shown their ineptitude and ineffectiveness,” the Bagan MP remarked.
“While the rakyat is suffering daily, there is no coherent plan or concerted action to check the soaring prices other than trying to shift the blame on traders who are also victims in this national crisis.”
Worse, according to Lim, is when Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi had flip-flopped on his own statement to reverse the soaring prices of basic necessities by Dec 9 by refusing to take responsibility if he fails to do so by then.
“Since Ministers sleeping or not doing their jobs cannot be sacked due to the slim Parliamentary majority enjoyed by Ismail, are Special Advisers the way out for Ismail?
“What do these special advisers do? Do they give papers or meet the Prime Minister weekly?
“The public is sceptical of the special creation of ‘Special Adviser’ posts by Ismail and speculate that this is a political device to ‘buy’ support.
“No one can see the need for such special advisers unless the current ministers are not doing their jobs in relation to law and human rights, religious affairs and health. In that case, the three Ministers concerned should be relieved of their jobs immediately.” – Dec 3, 2021
