Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has officially announced the appointment of two new special advisors to handle affairs in East Asia as well as internationally.
Pahang Gerakan chairperson and businessperson Randdy Yap Kim Heng was appointed as a Special Advisor to the minister on East Asia, whereas Yayasan Felda general manager Mohd Banuri Aris was appointed International Welfare Consultant to the Foreign Minister.
Both appointments took effect in October and November last year.
Saifuddin, who is also Indera Mahkota MP, however, stressed that the appointment of the two individuals did not incur additional costs to the Ministry.
“They have already started doing the work and it (the appointment) was unpaid and without allowances.
“It is all is to provide the best service to the country and I need advice from them to help facilitate my (work) affairs," he said during a press conference on flood disaster relief at the Indera Mahkota Parliamentary service office, in Kuantan, today.
He clarified that the expertise of the staff in the Ministry was sufficient, but he decided to appoint Yap and Banuri for their experience.
“Yap has a business in China, so of course, he better understands the atmosphere and the situation there. I am able to get Yap’s views on issues related to East Asian countries.
“Similarly, Banuri is always involved in aid and humanitarian missions. During the recent floods, the Yayasan FELDA also helped a lot by sending food boxes to the people affected (by the floods),” he said.
Last November, Saifuddin sparked controversy when he appointed former FINAS director-general Dr Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nazri as Cultural Secretary and Eizlan Yusof as Creative Consultant at the Foreign Ministry.
He explained that the appointment of the two former actors was in the nature of 'national service' and without any payment of allowances or salary on a regular basis. - Mkini
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