Afif downplays speculation he is now Azmin's special tasks officer

Speculation is rife that Seberang Jaya assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin has been appointed as a special tasks officer to International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali.

A Google search for "Afif Bahardin Miti" shows that he is listed as such an officer under the minister's office.

However, Afif's name is not listed when the page is actually opened. His name does not turn up in a search on the directory either.

However, there is another link on the ministry's official website that leads to a small profile on Afif. This is similar to the pop-ups which appear when a name on a director is clicked.

It is unclear if the ministry had removed Afif from the directory or that a profile was created in anticipation of his appointment.

Earlier on March 12, Azmin's political secretary Hilman Idham posted on Instagram a photo of a meeting that he and Afif attended together with the minister, and the latter's private and press secretaries.

The photo had the caption "Back to work".

Malaysiakini has contacted Azmin's officers for clarification

When contacted, Afif - who was a close ally to Azmin - indicated that his appointment as the latter's officer was not true and said he was still awaiting a decision on whether he was still a PKR member or not.

"I don't know why I've become the focus within the party who still feels that I am a threat to them.

"Like I said before, I am just waiting for the party decision whether to sack me or not," he told Malaysiakini.

He added that the focus now during the Covid-19 crisis should be on serving the people.

PKR had launched a disciplinary probe into Afif after Azmin quit the party to join forces with Bersatu, Umno and PAS to form Perikatan Nasional.

Penang PKR Youth chief Fahmi Zainol, when contacted, said if Afif's appointment was true, he should withdraw from the party respectfully.

"If it's false, then that's good," Fahmi added.

Earlier this month, Afif had quit as a Penang state executive councillor.

He had also said that his presence at the Sheraton Hotel in Selangor last month, as the coup was taking place, was to "monitor" the situation.

He also urged the public to give the new Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin a chance to prove himself. -Mkini