PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob brushed off criticism of his decision to appoint controversial lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff as his special officer, saying he could choose whoever he felt deserving of the role.

“I can choose whoever I think is qualified,” he told the media in Terengganu today.

He said Kamarul Zaman, a former Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) lecturer and DAP critic, was chosen for his experience

“I can choose the person I feel is qualified, and if others say he is not qualified, it does not mean I have to follow what the other party says,” he said after attending a Terengganu Umno open house programme.

Kamarul Zaman, who is also a political analyst and media commentator, has been embroiled in defamation suits with DAP lawmaker, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh over his claims that she and the party had a “Christianisation” agenda.

Kamarul Zaman’s new job as the prime minister’s special officer was effective since December but only became public recently after he was referred to in promotional material for an upcoming Malay language symposium.

He then confirmed his appointment and said his scope of work does not touch on politics or policy-making, but only to assist in doing research.  – May 20, 2022.