PM limits ministers to 10 aides, Dzulkefly confirms

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed today that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohmad issued a directive to limit each minister to 10 personal aides.

"Yes. This has become the instruction of the prime minister, and we have no problem in following the order," the health minister told a press conference after attending a dental health programme in Kuala Lumpur today. 

"There were several ministries who wanted more than that figure, but in the end, they all agreed (to the instruction)."

As Dzulkefly pointed out, Education Minister Maszlee Malik requested to be given more officers, but this was because the functions of the now-defunct Higher Education Ministry were absorbed into the Education Ministry. 

"It is easy, if there is a need for more officers, we can benefit via secondment without increasing the number of officers.

"We can get their assistance by appointing them as advisers, etc., so there is no need to increase the number of officers on top of the recruitment of 10 aides," he said.

The Malaysian Insight reported yesterday that unlike the previous BN administration, Pakatan Harapan cabinet members could not hire more than 10 aides or special officers.

“Now, everything is by the book. Each minister is allowed only a press secretary and three special officers. In the past, a senior minister could have up to 35 officers,” a source told the portal.

The source also said that some political appointees hired by the previous administration had their salaries paid by private companies, as ministries did not have big enough budgets.

Cabinet ministers were recently issued a circular dated 2012 from the Public Service Department, which stated that a minister could only hire one special officer, one private secretary and one press secretary on top of supporting staff.  - Mkini