COMMENT | Some Malaysian political parties (or ministries) are like family-run businesses, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is neither the first nor last to show favouritism for a family member.

Special posts can be created specifically for family members, like when former tourism minister  Nazri Aziz created the post of “special officer” for his son, Nedim.

He may not have been on the government payroll, but who wouldn't like to be whisked to exotic locations in first-class on an all expenses paid “belajar sambil melawat”?

A month into his tenure as prime minister, Anwar quietly nominated his eldest daughter, Nurul Izzah, to be his senior advisor on economics and finance.

There had been no prior public announcement or newspaper reporting. He must have known this would upset the public, so when she inadvertently mentioned this special post in a mainstream media interview in February 2023, all hell broke loose.