PM to get a health adviser, says minister

 

Azalina Othman Said has been named law and human rights adviser while Kedah Umno chief Jamil Khir Baharom is the religious affairs adviser.

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is to get yet another “special adviser” to assist him, with the appointment of a health adviser.

This was revealed by special functions minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad in a parliamentary written reply to Kubang Pasu MP Amiruddin Hamzah.

Latiff added that there are three special adviser roles to the prime minister – on law and human rights, religious affairs, and health.

While Pengerang MP 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”, he said.

It was previously reported that each special adviser costs the government RM50,000 a month, which is inclusive of the staff and the operations of their respective offices.

Earlier in the week, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng hit out at Ismail for having these advisers, questioning why they were needed as ministers had been appointed to deal with these tasks.

“Does Ismail not trust his Cabinet members to provide him the feedback that he needs, or are they deemed incompetent?

“If they are unable to perform their functions, at least they have officers who can be called upon to advise the prime minister. That is unless Ismail can no longer trust anyone from within his Cabinet.” - FMT