PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is said to be getting yet another ‘special adviser’ on health to assist him.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad revealed this in a parliamentary written reply to Kubang Pasu MP Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah.
This is on top of the two existing special adviser roles to the Prime Minister – on law and human rights as well as religious affairs.
While Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Kedah UMNO chief Jamil Khir Baharom have filled up the first two roles respectively, the special health adviser post is “still in the process of being appointed”.
Reports have previously mentioned that each special adviser costs the Government RM50,000 a month, which is inclusive of the staff and the operations of their respective offices.
On Sunday (Nov 28) Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng had questioned the need for Ismail Sabri to appoint three advisors especially at a time when the nation’s coffers are running low.
Lim pointed out that there were already relevant ministers to provide advice in the areas that the trio were appointed to give their advice: religion, health, as well as law and human rights.
“Does Ismail Sabri not trust his Cabinet ministers to provide him the feedback that he needs, or are they deemed to be incompetent?” he asked in a statement.
“If they are unable to perform their functions, at least they have officers who can be called upon to advise the prime minister, unless of course, Ismail Sabri can no longer trust anyone from within his Cabinet colleagues,” he added. – Dec 2, 2021
Photo credit: The Strait Times
