It is vital that professionals be appointed to key government positions so that they can guide the respective agencies or ministries to come up with the right policies, says Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh.
The former Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister said on Wednesday (July 22) that it was vital for professionals to hold key posts in government agencies to provide early intervention measures.
She said the recent remark by Perak’s Women Development, Family and Social Welfare Committee chairman Datuk Dr Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin that the state was not too keen to have more baby hatches to avoid sending out a signal that it was encouraging baby dumping, was not right.
“When Pakatan Harapan was in Putrajaya, we launched the ‘Save A Life’ campaign to prevent baby dumping and to support young women.
“We also had various campaigns by working with local cinema operators and highway concessionaires where we put up posters at the public toilets in the R&R stops along the highways.
“There must be more outreach programmes done with the input of professionals so that there can be right intervention measures,” she said in a press conference at the Parliament media room.
Yeoh also referred to a written reply she received from her former ministry on the departure of National Welfare Foundation chief executive officer Datin Paduka Che Asmah Ibrahim, as well as National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) chairperson Datuk Dr Narimah Awim.
Yeoh had asked if the method of appointing people to these posts varied from what was observed by the previous Pakatan administration.
Dr Narimah was replaced by Umno’s Parit MP Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria recently, while Che Asmah’s post remains vacant.
Yeoh asked why Che Asmah’s contract, which was supposed to end in November, was terminated in March.
“The written reply from the Ministry says that her contract was terminated to safeguard the good interests, as well as the direction, of the current government’s leadership,” said Yeoh.
She said Che Asmah was appointed after undergoing vigorous round of interviews.
She added that her experiences in welfare work made Che Asmah the right candidate for the job.
“The reply also says that the new LPPKN chairman (Mohd Nizar) appointed has a high integrity level and understands the government’s role in socioeconomic management.
“This doesn’t answer my question,” said Yeoh.
She stressed that professionals, such as Dr Narimah, had the experience and would be able to advise the government agencies on outreach programmes needed for the people.
“But if you have a political appointment, in this case (LPPKN), an MP, a man, who may not be… I am not saying all men are not sympathetic, but I am saying in this case, we really had a better candidate, and these professionals are not even political members.
“They are not from DAP or PKR, so why do we go all out to punish these people? Social problems are very serious. Wrong intervention gets you the wrong outcome. – The Star