Nazri: Minister's prerogative can't be questioned

A minister has the prerogative to draw up his own employee roll and it cannot be questioned, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said.

He told reporters this in response to news that his son Nedim was listed as a ‘special officer’ under his ministry, which some critics blasted as nepotism.

“It’s my ministry, I can put anybody’s name there,” Nazri ( centre in photo, in white ) told reporters after officially opening a new wax museum in Shah Alam today.

“I am still elected and I am still the minister... I don’t care what you people think... He is my son and I am happy that I made him my special officer.”

Nazri said his son was not involved in ministry work, only helping him organise events to help him connect with the young people in his constituency.

Nazri explained that he does not use Facebook or Twitter and so his son served a political purpose.

'He doesn't need to be paid'

"I am not concerned about the younger generation in other parts of the country. I am only interested in the younger generation in my constituency - they are my voters... I have got 6,000 first time voters and these are all young people," Nazri said.

Nazri called his son an “errand boy or office boy” and said the latter was not gazetted under the ministry’s payroll.

“He doesn't need to be paid... his father is rich!” Nazri said, in jest.

Nazri said Nedim had worked under him since 2008,  even during the last national election, but vehemently denied that Nedim was following his footsteps and going into  politics.

"The only politician in the family is me. I decided this a long time ago," Nazri said.

Asked again why then was there a need to make Nedim ( right ) a "special officer," Nazri repeated that this was his prerogative.

"That one is up to me, lah. It's my choice what... I am king, my son... I decide for him," he said.

Asked how his son felt about being made a public issue, Nazri said: "He doesn't care, he's my son. It is not easy being my son, you know.

"He is happy because he is working for his father. This is something that he has to live through because he is my son."

Muhammad Nedim Nazri had courted controversy in the past.

The latest issue on his appointment was first raised by seemingly pro-establishment blogger Cucu Tok Selampit, who said that the issue could “turn off  supporters of the government”.