IPOH: Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad has asserted that the appointments of his special officers in state constituencies represented by Perikatan Nasional were not intended to undermine the roles of the respective state assemblymen.
Saarani said the roles of his special officers in the 26 constituencies won by Perikatan were different from those of the elected state representatives.
"They are just my special officers who take instructions and work for me.
"If, say, there is a request for some things, they will go down to the ground to check whether it is urgently needed or not or whether it is required," he said after presenting Hari Raya goodies to uniformed units at the state secretariat building here on Wednesday (March 19).
"A state assemblyman should know better. They work for the people and can come to me directly about any needs of their constituents. That's the difference," he said.
"That is why many people contend to become a state assemblyman and not to be my special officer," he added.
In February, Perak PAS information chief Khalil Yahaya questioned Saarani's need to have special officers in all constituencies won by Perikatan Nasional.
Khalil, who is also Kubu Gajah assemblyman, claimed that this was meant to undermine the elected representatives' work in the relevant areas.
Perikatan recently brought up the matter again as an issue for the upcoming Ayer Kuning by-election.
