LETTER | The appointment of Nurul Izzah Anwar as the senior adviser of economics and finance to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is just too much for the public to swallow.

What justification can Anwar give to the public for appointing his daughter when there are far more qualified people who could fill those shoes?

Regardless of whether she is salaried or not, Anwar has just confirmed that the culture of nepotism is still very much applicable.

He could not be clearer when he previously said that there would not be unnecessary appointments, and yet his actions are contrary to that.

Anwar has enough experts in his cabinet and civil service to get the work done. Or is he doubting them so much that he has to appoint his own daughter to advise him on economics and finance?

It makes no sense to the voters.

As it is within less than 100 days in power, his government has already set up various think tanks, war rooms and working committees to address various urgent issues.

We have two deputy prime ministers, an economics minister with a deputy, and two deputy finance ministers. And yet his daughter seems to have the credentials to be a senior adviser to him on economics and finance.

Baffling indeed that while the country is losing top brains to their neighbours for being deprived of recognition, we have the prime minister himself whose actions continue to confirm that political appointments are far more important.

Indeed, Anwar has just provided ample ammunition for the opposition and his critics.

It will only be ethically, morally, and politically right if Anwar retracts Nurul Izzah's appointment.

The nation has suffered enough from cronyism, nepotism and corruption.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.