HEALTH Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has once again stressed that his ministry is not involved in his daughter’s appointment to the Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) board.

“I had issued a statement previously. Her appointment has nothing to do with my ministry.

“In fact Nurul Iman herself has lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” he was quoted as saying in a report on Sinar Online.

Nurul Iman’s appointment to the micro-finance agency established to develop female entrepreneurs caused much talk of nepotism and cronism.
 
Junaidah Kiting, the wife of the prime minister’s political secretary, was appointed AIM chairman.

Both the appointments were made in October last year.

Junaidah dismissed charges of cronyism following her appointment to the post, saying she had been appointed by AIM’s top management .

Nurul Iman, a law lecturer at a private higher education institution, has been reported as saying that AIM had selected her for the job because the agency was tasked to assist women and there were no women members on the board.

“I was approached on that basis, and also because of my expertise. As I also have a legal background, I was asked to offer legal advice to AIM,” said Nurul Iman.

Activists have also expressed concerns over Pakatan Harapan’s tendency to appoint party and family members to government agencies and government-linked companies just eight months into federal power.

With some 10 people related to PH leaders posted to government agencies and companies, activists said the new government is looking like Barisan Nasional, whose 61-year rule was synonymous with cronyism. – January 29, 2019.