Kelantan MB, deputy’s children’s hiring is ‘above board’ – agency

The employment of the Kelantan menteri besar and his deputy's children in the Kelantan State Economic Development Corporation (PKINK) is not the same as the appointment of Nurul Izzah Anwar as the prime minister's senior economic and financial adviser.

According to PKINK, this was because the duo was hired through the "right channel", based on their respective qualifications.

PKINK was responding to criticisms against the employment of state Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob's daughter Nor Azma Hilmah, and Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah's son Ahmad Mujahid in the agency. The former is an assistant manager in the legal and integrity department, while the latter is an assistant manager in the corporate division.

"The duo (Nor Azma and Ahmad Mujahid) filled up forms when PKINK advertised vacancies and applied for the job. They were then interviewed as any other candidate.

"Only when they passed the interview, they were hired. Their fathers (MB and his deputy) were not involved in the interview process at all," Utusan Malaysia quoted PKINK saying in a statement.

Netizens questioned the duo's employment at PKINK, where both Ahmad (above, left) and Amar sit on its board, after the opposition cried nepotism in Nurul Izzah's appointment.

It was reported earlier this week that Anwar, who is also the finance minister, has roped in Nurul Izzah to be his senior economic and financial adviser on a pro-bono basis.

Amid criticisms, Anwar has defended his decision, saying that the appointment is to ensure contracts and tenders are managed in an “orderly” manner. - Mkini