THE deputy prime minister today defended Pakatan Harapan’s political appointments in government agencies, saying the appointees are not high ranking politicians but people who merit the jobs.

They do not hold high positions in their respective parties, said Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in the face of criticism thrown PH’s way over its selection of executives in government agencies and government-linked companies (GLCs).

“The qualification is that they do not hold high positions in the party. It happens that sometimes many of them have political affiliations or are party members,” the Pandan MP said during a visit to a market in Kuala Lumpur, today.

She said despite the appointees’ political affiliations, their appointments were made based on merit.

“We have reduced political appointees. However some of the appointments are done based on their qualifications,” she said.

The PH government has recently received flak for cronyism and nepotism

The recent appointments of Junaidah Kiting as the chairman of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) and Nurul Iman Dzulkefly to the AIM board raised eyebrows as the first is the wife of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s political secretary and the second, the daughter of Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Other appointments deemed questionable are two Bersatu division leaders to the board of directors of Yayasan Pelajaran Johor, and Mengkudu assemblyman Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi to National Farmers’ Organisation (Nafas) chairman.

Earlier this month, Rural and Regional Development Minister Rina Harun, who is the Wanita Bersatu chief, appointed her a Bersatu supreme council member and the party’s lawyer to head government agencies under her ministry – February 1, 2019.