DPM defends Harapan’s political appointments

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has defended the slew of recent political appointments by Pakatan Harapan.

“We have reduced the number of political appointments, but some of the appointments could have been made on the basis of merit... and those chosen don’t hold high positions in political parties.

“Most of us have political affiliations anyway and some of us are members of political parties,” she told the media when asked after distributing mandarin oranges to her constituents in Pandan, Selangor, this morning.

Earlier this week, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department and Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa appointed Amanah members Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz and Zolkharnian Abidin as the president and deputy president of the Islamic Dakwah Foundation (Yadim).

Mujahid also installed Selangor Amanah vice-chairperson (II) Shamsul Ma'arif Ismail and DAP’s Paloh assemblyperson Sheikh Omar Bagharib Ali as part of Yadim’s board of trustees.

Mujahid, who is in charge of Islamic affairs, had defended the appointments, saying they were people whom he believed could effectively uphold and implement Islamic ideals.

Also this month, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister and Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub (photo) handpicked four Amanah members and one PKR member to sit on the National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) committee.

Salahuddin explained that appointing “outsiders” would have been a time-consuming process as he would have needed to “scan and read (their) track record”.

“So we chose specialists from among our ranks," he had said.

Meanwhile, in Johor, two Bersatu division chiefs were appointed as board members of the Yayasan Pelajar Johor (YPJ).

The foundation explained that the appointments were made based on the duo’s academic qualifications plus their experience in the education and corporate sectors.

“Political position has never been considered as a merit in the selection of YPJ board members,” it said.

Harapan had promised in its election manifesto to ensure that the appointment of board members in national and state government-linked companies (GLCs) would be from among professionals, rather than based on political connections.

- Mkini