Nurul Izzah's appointment is against Anwar's promises in GE15

Focus

By NUR IFTITAH ROZLAN

30 Jan 2023 09:36pm

Ummah Movement (Ummah) Chairman Mohd Zai Mustafa said Ummah was surprised with the appointment of Nurul Izzah Anwar as the Senior Economic and Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister

SHAH ALAM - The appointment of former Permatang Pauh MP, Nurul Izzah Anwar as Senior Economic and Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister is against the principles and promises of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the people during the 15th General Election (GE15).

Ummah Movement (Ummah) Chairman Mohd Zai Mustafa said Anwar should appoint individuals among economists who were experts in their fields.

"Ummah was surprised and felt awkward when we found out from the media that the 10th Prime Minister's daughter herself had been appointed as the Economic and Financial Advisor on Jan 3, 2023.

"This position is understood to have been created to help advise the Prime Minister pro bono (without a salary) basis.

"It is rather strange because if the Prime Minister needs expert advice, he should appoint one of the economists who is an expert in economic affairs in this country.

"The principle of appointment based on merit and expertise and without nepotism in the government that was proclaimed by Anwar has been violated and set aside," he said in a statement on Monday.

On Sunday, Nurul Izzah who is also the PKR Vice President revealed that she was appointed as the Senior Economic and Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister effective from Jan 3.

Meanwhile, Mohd Zai stressed that in a country that currently struggles with difficulties and gloom of the world economy, it is crucial for the Prime Minister to appoint someone who is truly an expert to give advice and direction for a more resilient national economic development plan.

"It is to save the country and the people as a whole. This requires a lot of expertise and experience and convincing all parties.

"It is rather unfortunate for Malaysians when the 10th Prime Minister failed to implement and defend his own main principles of the government that were promised during the general election.

"Among his promises were rejecting corruption, nepotism, appointments based on the merit of expertise, lowering the price of oil and basic food items for the people," he said