SHAH ALAM, August 21: The is no rational justification in the re-election of Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for the position of special advisor to the Prime Minister on issues related to women, when her credibility has been tainted with the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal involving her husband and her family, said Member of Parliament for Kuantan, Fuziah Salleh.
Fuziah added that Shahrizat’s appointment has no added value in women agendas. This is because she personally failed to uphold the dignity and reputation of women when she held the portfolio of Minister of Women, Family and Community Development in 2009, and eventually resigned in April 2012 after her family members were involved in the NFC controversy.
Speaking to TVSelangor, Fuziah said, if it is true that Shahrizat is being appointed, she will return to the post she once held and public funds will once again be wasted to pay her salary as a minister.
“Shahrizat does not only have a background related to the NFC cattle scandal, but she is also a minister who resigned.
“So it is not appropriate for her to be appointed to the position of the Prime Minister’s special advisor on women’s affairs. The appointment is only a waste of the taxpayer’s and the people’s money.
“From what I see, public money will be wasted to pay the salary of someone who is not qualified to hold this position,” she said.
Fuziah also is of the opinion that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should stand firm in fighting corruption and instead cancel all intentions of the appointment.
She added that there is no need to appoint Shahrizat as special advisor while there are many more women representatives who are qualified for the post.
“A leader like Shahrizat is seen as being at the end of her political career, and the people will not benefit from paying her salary as a minister.
“There is no need to appoint Shahrizat. There are many more qualified women and Najib also has advisors on women-related issues in the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, (the post) which is held by Rohani Karim,” said Fuziah.
Shahrizat was also previously elected as senator after losing the Lembah Pantai Parliamentary seat in the 12th General Election to Nurul Izzah Anwar.
She was then appointed as the Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development in 2008.
She is also expected to defend her post as Women’s Chief in the Umno elections scheduled to take place on 12 October.
