Azmin Ali: Prisoner Anwar remains as Selangor economic adviser

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s "international recognition" as a leader warrants him to remain as the Selangor economic adviser despite his imprisonment, according to Azmin Ali.

In response to Datuk Shamsuddin Lias (BN-Sg Burong), the Selangor Mentri Besar said Anwar was capable in handling the nation’s coffers, until it earned him the title of “Finance Minister of the Year” in 1996 by financial journal, Euro Money.

“We have to accept the fact that he was once the World Bank’s Development Committee chairman involving developed and developing nations.

“Even the world renowned cleric Yusuf al-Qardhawi considered him part of his family,” said Azmin, in his winding-speech of the motion of thanks to the royal address by the Sultan of Selangor, here, Tuesday.

Earlier, Shamsuddin questioned the Selangor government as to why Anwar was still the state adviser as the Opposition Leader’s movement was already restricted due to his imprisonment.

“We should also heed to the Selangor Sultan’s call, urging us to strive for the better, economically. What’s wrong with appointing another economic adviser?” he asked at the state assembly.

To this, Azmin said the state government could still seek Anwar’s advice based on his writings and paperwork that were published internationally.

“That is why I believe he should still be the economic adviser for Selangor,” he said.

Anwar was appointed as the state economic adviser during Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s tenure but his office was shut down on Khalid’s last day as mentri besar.

He is currently serving a five-year prison term after a five-man bench led by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria found him guilty of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.