KUALA LUMPUR – Following the reveal of his five-figure salary as adviser to prime minister for 12 days, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu has pledged to donate it to the Covid-19 Fund.
He told Mingguan Malaysia that he was not discouraged and angry with those who questioned his income, and he even supported that the matter was raised in Parliament recently to ensure transparency in the salaries of government members.
However, Faizal who is now youth and sports minister, said he was a little upset at the time because he was not given the opportunity to explain himself, especially his intention to donate the salary to the Covid-19 Fund.
He said when he sent a letter to Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali to channel half of his salary to the Covid-19 Fund, it was on the same day that the government led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin collapsed.
“I agree with them (detractors), because I have not provided much service yet, but received a salary of RM27,000 plus a prorated income, maybe more. I intend to return the entire sum to the Covid-19 Fund.
“I’m sorry. To my critics, I forgive them. If I made a mistake, I apologise. They are not wrong, and I agree with those who brought up the matter.”
However, he said as an “orang kampung”, he was worried when netizens questioned his work performance.
“I did not do anything wrong. But I’m worried when netizens talk about my work performance.
“But if they talk about my behaviour, my weaknesses on things that do not harm the country, I don’t care. I am an ‘orang kampung’.”
In a parliamentary reply on September 14, it was revealed that Faizal received a RM27,227.20 salary when he was appointed as adviser to then prime minister Muhyiddin.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Bera-BN) said Faizal’s salary had been prorated due to his brief stint as adviser.
He added that Faizal received a month’s salary as part of his termination of service notice and is not eligible for pension payments in that role.
The question was posed by Lim Lip Eng (Kepong-PH), who asked the prime minister to reveal Faizal’s remuneration and Faizal’s role as it came with a ministerial rank.
To this, Ismail Sabri replied: “He was responsible in establishing close cooperation between the government and community leaders as well as increasing the people’s understanding of government policies through effective communication channels, and improving the government’s delivery system in terms of socio-economic development.”
Faizal was appointed by Muhyiddin on August 5.
He lost his position when Muhyiddin resigned as prime minister on August 16. – The Vibes, September 19, 2021
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