Spotted in Egypt, Brazil, Peru with dad PMX: So who sponsored or subsidised Nurul Izzah’s trip?

AS the Madani government was grilled in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday (Nov 21) over getting the private sector to bear, sponsor or subsidise PMX’s recent working visits to five countries – a move that will undeniably breed corruption – questions abound as to who has foot the bill for PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar who was spotted with her father during his trip.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, newly-elected Bersatu supreme council member Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal questioned who funded the former Permatang Pauh MP’s presence on behalf of think tank the Social and Economic Research Initiative (SERI).

“What is the relevance of SERI which is represented by the Prime Minister’s daughter?” asked the Machang MP and former Bersatu Youth chief.

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal

“Why is there such a minimal allocation for parliamentary select committees, yet funds are available for someone who is neither an MP nor a government official? This is not good governance.”

What is certain is that Nurul Izzah was appointed as SERI’s chairperson on March 8 this year with the tank stating that the appointment of the eldest of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s six children was backed by multiple prominent campaigns directly proposed by her before joining the institution.

“She is a well-known legislator, political activist and public servant who has consistently worked to advance social and economic justice for all Malaysians, concentrating on women and vulnerable populations like the B40 (Bottom 40% income group),” noted SERI.

While Malaysiakini has reached out to Nurul Izzah for her side of the story, she had in fact penned on her Facebook page on Nov 9 that she would be leaving for Egypt that morning “for a working visit to Egypt, Peru & G20 Brazil”.

“The official delegation comprised well-known Malaysian entrepreneurs as well as other small and medium industry entrepreneurs,” shared the co-head of the secretariat that supports the operations of the Advisory Committee to the Finance Minister (Anwar himself).

“Representing SERI, I’ll meet with the Third World Network (TWN) as well as The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Al Azhar University with the participation of Think City.”

Additionally, during a programme in Peru, Nurul Izzah also represented her mother Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail by visiting the Muslim community at the Mezquita de Magdalena Dei Mar Mosque in Peru.

In his revelation that has provided much ammunition for the opposition front to attack his Madani administration, Anwar had named the likes of PETRONAS, Sapura Energy Bhd, Yinson, Holdings Bhd and PROTON as having borne 70% to 80% of the cost of the trips.

Even though PMX has been frank, bold and transparent with his exposé, one wonders – at least from a political stand-point – whether this will be tantamount to shooting oneself in the foot.

This is especially so as he was cited in his party’s very own mouthpiece Suara Keadilan on Dec 27, 2022 stating that the government would no longer allow the private sector to sponsor overseas trip by civil servants. 

- focus malaysia