KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has issued a directive that each Cabinet member cannot hire more than 10 special officers.
This was confirmed today by Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who said that his ministry and other ministers welcome the directive and will comply with it.
“Yes, this is a directive from the PM that we have no problem complying with.
“Although several ministries had sought more (special officers), (Cabinet members) agree (with the directive).
“(Despite) a reorganisation that saw the merger of the Higher Education Ministry and the Education Ministry and all duties now falling under a single Education Minister (for inistance), we will be able to handle it,” he said.
Dr Dzulkefly added that each minister will now make effective use of their existing aides.
He was speaking to the media after launching the Dental Health Promotion Week at Dataran DBKL here this morning.
On Sept 1, news portal The Malaysian Insight cited sources which claimed that Dr Mahathir had directed each member of his Cabinet to hire only up to 10 aides or special officers.
The source was quoted as saying that this differs from the past administration, in which a senior minister could have up to 35 such officers.
