Ex-ministers, MP hold duplicated posts in PM’s office
(fz.com) – Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng questioned the necessity for duplications of officers and advisers in the Prime Minister’s office. Among them includes former work minister and ex-MP for Sungai Siput, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu who is special envoy to India, receiving a monthly allowance of RM27,227.20.
Does Malaysia need two envoys in China and in India?
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng questioned the necessity for duplications in the public office.
During the recent parliament session, Lim requested the Prime Minister’s Office to reveal a name list of ex-ministers, ex-deputy ministers, former MPs and ex-senators, who now hold public positions in the said office.
Minister in the PM’s Office Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim returned with seven names listed with their respective monthly allowance, but the list did not include other perks of the job.
Among them includes former work minister and ex-MP for Sungai Siput, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu who is special envoy to India, receiving a monthly allowance of RM27,227.20.
Status of a special envoy is the equivalent to a ministerial post, Lim said.
“If India doesn’t already have an ambassador, who is Datuk Tan Seng Sung? By all means Samy Vellu is the best person to liaise with the Indian government. But is it necessary to put two envoys in the same country?”
He speculates that this could be a deal struck between the ex-MIC chief and the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“Maybe PM promised to make him special envoy of India if he didn’t contest the last election.”
Former housing and local government minister Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting is now a special envoy to China, receiving a monthly pay cheque of RM20,000. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s ambassador to China is Datuk Iskandar Sarudin.
“The reason given for having two envoys was that Sarudin does not understand Mandarin.
“If there can be two envoys in a country, can there be two PMs in Malaysia,” Lim posed.
Lim said that he is not against people being appointment through political cables, so long as it is necessary.
At a press conference today, Lim also pointed out that the former Besut MP Tan Sri Dr Abdullah bin Md Zin, who is now PM’s religious adviser, manages a similar portfolio to Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom who is the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic affairs.
“I wonder if it is because Jamil Khir’s expertise is insufficient, that the PM needs to have another religious adviser.”
Zin receives RM25,106 in monthly allowances.
Read more at: http://www.fz.com/content/ex-ministers-mp-hold-duplicated-posts-pms-office
