After dropped from Cabinet, Shahrizat appointed as special adviser to PM

After dropped from Cabinet, Shahrizat appointed as special adviser to PM
By Newsdesk

18 March, 2008

Former Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has been appointed special adviser to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for women’s and social development. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Department faxed to Bernama, the appointment, which carries a ministerial rank, will be effective from tomorrow. Shahrizat lost the March 8 general election to Nurul Izzah Anwar of the PKR in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat.
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The statement said that Shahrizat, in carrying out her duties and responsibilities, will work closely with her previous ministry which is now helmed by Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Abdullah will also have an adviser on Islamic religious affairs and another on foreign affairs.

After the cabinet announcement which saw Wanita Umno’s chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz and Shahrizat dropped, the movement had an emergency meeting, presumably to discuss the absence of key Wanita Umno Cabinet representation.

Although yesterday’s meeting was scheduled for 5.15pm, it only began at about 5.40pm. A notable absence was Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz.

When the meeting ended an hour later, Shahrizat left without speaking to the Press, despite having informed them earlier that she would be giving a statement. Wanita representatives later told the Press that Rafidah would be issuing an official statement at 2.30pm tomorrow.