A minister and his son

"He is not on government payroll," says Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz on the appointment son Nedim as one of his special officers, claiming it was not nepotism.

Whether its nepotism or not, the issue here is having a next of kin working with him at the ministry although he is slotted for 'assisting Padang Rengas constituency program'. And it is normal for a special officer to have 'a seat' at the ministry.

When our son, daughter, wife, son-in-law or daughter-in-law is engaged in such a manner, he or she will be the 'gatekeeper' to the ministry. Power and 'authority' will engulf them, hence turning them into the most important people after the boss.

Opportunist and contract seekers would go after them to get help, assistance and favor. Even without such a position, family members (including a minister's brother, cousin, uncle, etc) would come under 'attacks' by people who want something from the ministry.

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Mohamad Nazri Aziz said that his son Nedim’s appointment as his special officer was not nepotism because he was not on the government payroll.
The Tourism and Culture Minister described the appointment as just a symbolic move to allow his youngest son to help organise programmes in his Padang Rengas constituency.
The minister explained that he had previously appointed his son to help him in Perak before and during the recent general election.
“I needed him to engage with the Gen Y voters. 
“Since he is young, I engaged his help. 
“But he is not a salaried worker,” Nazri was quoted by a news portal as saying.
An aide to Nazri, when contacted, confirmed that Nedim was not a gazetted officer of the ministry.
“Gazetted officers include his press secretary and private secretary,” the official said.
She pointed out that Nedim was to be paid by Nazri and the ministers could appoint as many special officers as they wanted. 
The ministry’s official portal lists Nedim as one of two special officers in the ministry.

When a next of kin is given such a 'power' and attention by the public, he or she will start to enjoy it. This will eventually corrupt their mind, and it is usual to see such a person gets rich in a short span.

Remember when Pak Lah was PM? As almost everybody knows about it, there is no need for me to remind Malaysians of the 'most powerful son-in-law' episode.

To Nazri, it was the right move. He may have the idea of bringing up a politician in his youngest son but to the eyes and mind of many, it will open up the doors to power abuse within his office and the ministry.

Immediately after PM Najib announced his Cabinet line-up in May, a minister told me of his intention to appoint his son-in-law as his corporate comm director. However, after I objected to his idea, he called it off.

A mentri besar once made his son a general manager of the state's economic and planning agency, and what happened after that?

Even to have a 'no portfolio' wife meddling with the administration will give the public a general impression that she is running the show, and not his husband! (Siapa ini orang? Ada ka patut?!)