A screenshot of the Tourism Ministry staff directory in the website with the redesignation and other staff designations in place. August 18, 2013.Nedim Mohamed Nazri's job title has now been changed to special officer to the Padang Rengas MP, responsible for Gen Y issues, according to the Tourism and Culture Ministry's official website.
The change on the ministry's website was made on Friday to specify Nedim's exact role.
Three other officers were also named - Md Mahathir Md Salleh Huddin (Young Bumiputra Entrepreneur Affairs), Tai Zee How (Chinese community affairs and social media) and Uma Mageswari (Indian community affairs).
Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz was accused of nepotism after the website had listed Nedim as "special officer" last week.
Nazri shot back at critics that he was paying his son out of his own pocket and that Nedim was tasked with carrying out youth activities at the Padang Rengas constituency.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was later reported as saying there was no problem if a minister or government administrative staff hired their family members to assist them so long as they were not paid any salary or allowance by the government.
He had explained that a cabinet minister or MP could use their family members as special assistants in their constituencies but they could not be positioned in the minister's office.
Nazri also clarified that he had six other officers being paid from government funds, namely Datuk Azlinda Mohd Rashad (senior private secretary), Dr Jurij Jalaludin (private secretary), Datuk Mohamed Ismail Mohamed Othman (political secretary), Ahamad Fazli Ahamad Nordin (press secretary), Suzana Akmam Selamat Amir (special functions officer) dan Shahadan Osman (escort officer).
He was adamant that he would not dissolve his son's position just to make a few people happy especially as his previous legal position gave him a clear picture of the situation. He said he could appoint whomever he wanted in his ministry and he was happy to make his son his special officer.
"He has been working with me since 2008 and it is down to him that I won in the last general election with a bigger majority. He is only helping me out with tasks in Padang Rengas and is not related to any ministry affairs."
"Nedim helps me to get across to the youth in my constituency," Nazri said, adding he could create whatever post he wanted in his ministry.
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