MELAKA: Chief Minister Adly Zahari has defended the appointment of a state executive councillor's wife to a top position at a state government agency, saying that this is a move to empower women.

He said the appointment was to fill a vacancy and made in accordance with prerequisites to fill a position within a state government-linked agency.

"It is not a political appointment – it is based on the individual's qualifications.

"We do not evaluate an individual based on their family ties," he said here on Wednesday (Feb 20).

Adly was asked to comment on a Harakah Daily report on Feb 19 where the Melaka PAS Youth wing criticised the exco member's wife appointment to an agency which deals with religious matters, saying it was a conflict of interest.

In a press statement, Adly explained that the decision to make the appointment was reached at an exco meeting on June 27, 2018.

He said that the wife possessed a Masters' Degree in Health Informatics studies as well as a microbiology degree and was the most qualified person for the position.

Adly said she was an "exemplary" woman who manifested leadership qualities when heading community-based bodies and showed entrepreneurship qualities, on top of her role as a mother.

This is the second instance of family members of exco members appointed to helm top positions of state government agencies.

In last Dec 31, another state exco filed a defamation suit against Kota Melaka PKR's vice-chief Mohd Ashiq Abdul Samad for claiming there was an abuse of power in appointing the former's family member as the CEO of a state government-owned agency.

The RM5mil lawsuit was filed at the Melaka High Court.