Azalina's appointment is an attempt to limit her, says Amanah women's chief

 

Angkatan Wanita Amanah Nasional (Awan), the women's wing of Amanah, believes that Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said's appointment as a special advisor is an attempt to limit her role.

In a statement today, Awan chief Aiman Athirah Sabu claimed that based on her abilities and track record, the Pengerang MP was deserving of a ministerial position within the cabinet.

"We believe it would be wiser and more significant as well as an honour if Azalina was tasked with the responsibility of being a cabinet minister, in accordance with her abilities and record.

"Even her constructive proposals in the legal reform and transformation agenda, such as the proposed enactment of the Anti-Party Hopping Act, is in line with the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding on Administrative Transformation and Political Stability that was signed between the federal government and Pakatan Harapan on Sept 13, 2021.

"Azalina's appointment as a special adviser without the executive powers of this cabinet, apart from overlapping with the existing duties of the law minister, also seems like a planned attempt to limit her role and contribution solely as an advisor who cannot be fully utilised for the state," said Aiman.

Awan's statement follows Azalina's appointment as special advisor (law and human rights) to the prime minister.

Azalina had quit her position as a deputy speaker in the Dewan Rakyat, leading up to the installation of a new government under prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

This had prompted speculation that she would be given a ministerial position in his cabinet.

At the time, Azalina had expressed her hopes of spurring a "reset" of the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting with her resignation.

Incentivising individuals through political appointments

Before becoming the Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker, Azalina had a long experience in government.

She served as the youth and sports minister from 2004 to 2008 and later the tourism minister from 2008 to 2009.

Azalina Othman Said

She was also tapped as the de facto law minister from 2016 to 2018.

The Awan chief also reflected on the practice of appointing special advisers to the PM, stating it views the practice seriously.

"The appointment of special advisers to the prime minister from MPs and political leaders is similar to the "scheme of things" practice that was started by the Perikatan Nasional government and unfortunately still continues to be practised by the Umno-led government today," said Aiman.

The "scheme of things" referred to the practice of incentivising individuals through political appointments in order to shore up political influence. - Mkini