Dr Dzulkefly's Cabinet appointment based on merit, says Khalid Samad

PETALING JAYA: The appointment of Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad as the Health Minister is based on merit, says Khalid Abdul Samad (pic).

He said that the appointment is not meant to give Dr Dzulkefly an advantage in the Amanah party polls scheduled for the end of December.

Explaining the appointment, the Amanah communications director said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday (Dec 12) goes beyond party seniority or hierarchy as it goes on Dr Dzulkefly's merit and experience.

"If we look based on party seniority alone, Amanah vice-presidents Adly Zahari or Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Rawa could have been picked as a minister,” said Khalid.

"But what was done by the Prime Minister; he has seen beyond political hierarchy and appointed Dr Dzulkely based on merit and his capabilities to carry out his duties as the health minister. He is the right candidate," Khalid added in an interview with Jom Channel on Wednesday (Dec 13) night.

Khalid was asked whether Dr Dzulkefly's appointment as the Health Minister would give him an advantage in the party polls during the Amanah National Convention scheduled from Dec 23 to 24.

Dr Dzulkefly was reappointed as the Health Minister during a Cabinet on Tuesday (Dec 12), replacing Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

Dzulkefly – a three-term Kuala Selangor MP and Amanah strategy director – previously served as the Health Minister for nearly two years in the Pakatan Harapan administration of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Khalid added that Dzulkefly had a good track record when the Covid-19 first hit the country.

"Under his purview, the Covid-19 cases were still under control, there were no deaths. It shows that the policies that he used were effective in managing the threats brought by Covid-19," he said.