VIDEO | 1:09 mins

The appointment of former minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil as adviser to the prime minister on women's affairs is akin to launching a "recycled product" using taxpayers' money, said a PKR MP.

Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh said this is because Shahrizat brings "no added value" especially when it comes to women's issues.

"This may be a bit blunt but I don't see the point of releasing a recycled product, especially using taxpayers' money.

"Even as minister she failed to bring (forward) the agenda for women so what is the value of putting her as adviser on women's affairs?" she asked.

NONE Fuziah ( left ) said that as adviser to the prime minister, Shahrizat will be paid an allowance and as such whether or not she can perform should be a consideration.

In any case, she said, there is already a women’s, family and community development minister who can advise Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on women’s issues.

She added that Shahrizat had also resigned as a minister following her family’s involvement in the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal.

“(Her appointment) contradicts Najib’s position (on integrity). She resigned from her ministerial post in good faith, and he should have left it at that.

“It reflects badly on the PM’s personal integrity on addressing issues of corrupt personalities,” she said.

The MP was speaking to the media after a meeting between PKR lawmakers and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officials.

‘Nazri’s issue a grey area’

Also at the meeting was Subang MP R Sivarasa, who also commented on the issue of ministerial integrity.

Commenting specifically on Culture and Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz’s move to appoint his son as a special officer, he said politicians, especially ministers, should avoid issues of conflict of interest.

“This is a grey area. It is a conflict of interest but is not in violation of any law. However, the fact that his son is there in his office does raise questions.

NONE “Such situations should be avoided by politicians and especially those with executive powers that can be (mis)used to benefit people,” he said.

Nazri was accused of nepotism when his ministry website listed his son Muhammad Nedim as a “special officer”.

Nazri, however, said that he did nothing wrong as his son is not on the government payroll and is only assisting him in youth matters in Nazri's constituency of Padang Rengas.

Subsequently, the Culture and Tourism Ministry website listed Nedim as “Special Officer to Padang Rengas MP (Gen Y issues)”.