Kua Kia Soong, a former adviser to Suaram, asked if such posts were only created for unemployed politicians.
Noting that Tian Chua had been appointed adviser to then works minister Baru Bian in 2019, Kua questioned the merit and credentials of politicians holding such posts, including Nurul Izzah Anwar’s post of senior economics and finance adviser to the prime minister. He asked if this was in line with Pakatan Harapan’s ideals.
He also pointed out that Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in his second stint as prime minister, had appointed Daim Zainuddin to lead the “unelected” Council of Eminent Persons.
Kua said there were “dubious justifications” for the appointment of ministerial advisers, with little transparency or accountability, adding that there was also the risk of politicising the public service.
“For a start, if ministerial advisers are needed, there must be a framework governing the scope of their role. For example, they must not ask civil servants to do anything which is inconsistent with their obligations under the civil service code.
“They cannot authorise expenditure of public funds or have responsibility for budgets or exercise any power in relation to the management of any part of the civil service,” he said in a statement.
Kua maintained that a merit-based system in making such appointments would make it easier for Malaysians to hold Putrajaya accountable.
“We need a politically-neutral, merit-based career civil service, not dubious political appointments such as so-called ‘ministerial advisers’.”
Nurul Izzah’s appointment as Anwar Ibrahim’s senior adviser has drawn brickbats from the opposition and even anti-graft activists, with the prime minister accused of breaching good governance principles.
Anwar’s predecessor, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, had also drawn flak when he appointed Kedah Umno chief Jamil Khir Baharom as his religious affairs adviser.
Similarly, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin had been criticised for appointing Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu as his special adviser.
Faizal was paid a full month’s salary of RM27,227.20 plus a prorated amount for the 11 days he served as Muhyiddin’s special adviser. Muhyiddin resigned as prime minister on Aug 16, 2021.