KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah has defended the ministry's recent appointments of two senior officers after the matter was raised in the Dewan Rakyat.

       "As I had previously mentioned, the former CEO of the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) Dr Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzri was appointed as cultural secretary.

       "He formerly held the post under Jusa Grade B but he is now serving under Grade 54.

       "What he is doing is akin to national service," he said in reply to Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai) in the Dewan on Tuesday (Nov 23).

       Fahmi wanted to know the job scopes of Ahmad as well as actor-producer Datuk Seri Eizlan Yusof, who was appointed Saifuddin's creative adviser.

       Both appointments were effective Nov 1.

       Saifuddin noted that Eizlan had agreed to take up the post without pay.

       "What is Ahmad's job scope as he is seen here accompanying the minister during campaigning at the recent Melaka state polls?" Fahmi asked as he displayed an enlarged printout of a photograph depicting Saifuddin and Ahmad together at an event.

       Saifuddin noted the appointments of Ahmad and Eizlan were akin to the appointment of a press secretary or political secretary serving as special officer under a minister.

       "I have two other senior officers who are trained administrative and diplomatic officers.

       "I have prohibited them from taking part in political activities," he said.

       On a separate matter, Saifuddin said the role of cultural attaches needed to be reviewed to better promote Malaysia through cultural diplomacy.

       "Cultural diplomacy covers a wide spectrum such as philosophy, heritage, history and education.

       "It is not merely confined to the performing arts," he said.

       He cited Indonesia as an example where cultural diplomacy is used to promote Bahasa Indonesia.

       "I noticed that ambassadors from the US and Europe speak Malay fluently and assumed they learned Bahasa Indonesia while in Indonesia.

       "The language was actually taught in over 30 centres set up by Indonesia and they have plans to increase these to 54 centres by 2024," he said.

       He added that there was a dedicated office to oversee cultural diplomacy in Indonesia.

       However, Saifuddin acknowledged that his ministry did not include the development of cultural diplomacy under Budget 2022.

       "We have to rely on the existing allocation we have and start on a small scale first," he said.

       Saifuddin added that his ministry is also looking at cooperating with the Communications and Multimedia and Tourism, Arts and Culture ministries to help develop the creative industry and further promote cultural diplomacy