KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has stepped down as Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri’s special adviser on law and human rights, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed today.
A statement said the Pengerang MP had tendered her resignation on Monday with a one-month notice, meant for her to complete any pending works.
“However, during this (one month) period, Azalina will no longer be on duty in the prime minister’s office as she has been given leave starting today until the end of her notice.
“Ismail Sabri records his appreciation and thanks for the service she has given throughout,” it said.
The statement today contradicts Azalina’s earlier denial yesterday, when she rubbished a media report that she has quit as the prime minister’s special adviser.
“I wish to confirm that as of August 31, 2022, I am still serving as the (prime minister’s) adviser on law and human rights,” she had said, in response to a Sinar Harian article a day earlier.
Azalina was appointed to the position on October 2 last year, just over a month after she stepped down as Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker on August 23 to allow the current government and opposition to “reset” the lower house.
She was recently criticised for her remark during the Umno special briefing on Saturday, when she said the prime minister of the ruling coalition should appoint the attorney-general (AG) from their own ranks.
Speaking to a 3,000-strong crowd during the gathering of Umno members following Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s imprisonment, Azalina had said that the premier is accorded full rights to appoint his choice for AG, with consent from the king.
“I don’t care if what I say angers the people but whoever is the prime minister must appoint the AG from his own people,” she said to roaring applause.
In a separate Facebook post yesterday, Azalina had uploaded a “Did You Know” poster noting how Malaysia’s third prime minister Tun Hussein Onn had similarly appointed two former AGs from among Umno members.
The poster pointed out that despite these appointments, the country’s legal system has remained preserved.
The two AGs were Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Yusof and Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah, both former MPs and cabinet members. – The Vibes, September 1, 2022
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