PM defends Nurul Izzah's credential to serve as economic, finance adviser

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has defended his daughter Nurul Izzah’s credentials as his pro bono adviser on the economy and finance.

This was after he was asked whether Nurul Izzah - who has a bachelor’s degree in engineering - was qualified to be an economic and financial adviser.

The prime minister replied by saying that she also has a second degree in public policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Checks on her profile found that the public policy academic qualification was a master’s degree.

Meanwhile, Anwar - who is a graduate of Malay studies - said that he too did not have finance minister qualifications and neither did many ministers from Perikatan Nasional (PN).

“Ministers from PAS and Bersatu don’t have qualifications in their respective (ministries) either.

“Is it true that a health minister must be a doctor or that a water minister must be an engineer?” he asked during a press conference in Tambun, Perak, today.

Nurul Izzah revealed her appointment - effective Jan 3 - during an interview with The Star published today.

Among those who have questioned Nurul Izzah’s appointment as the prime minister’s adviser is Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

Asked about his criticism, Anwar retorted: “What’s most important, including for Faizal, is to stop stealing land, timber, stocks, projects, and commissions. This is what is destroying the country.”

He added that he has also not heard anything from these critics supporting efforts to clean up the country.

“They all talk about corruption but when we talk about these cases, they ask ‘why dig up old cases?’,” Anwar said.

The prime minister pointed out that Nurul Izzah was not being paid to be his adviser.

“I am not paying her any allowances,” he said.

Anwar - who is also finance minister - is not drawing a salary either.

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