KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 — Former tourism, arts and culture minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has reportedly said that he is open to not receiving a salary for his appointment as the new Malaysian ambassador to the United States.

Following backlash from the public over the appointment, Utusan Malaysia today quoted the former Padang Rengas MP as saying that he "had a little money” and is willing to do the job for its own sake.

"But if [the government] wants to give [the salary] we take, I’m no longer a politician, money is not the goal,” he reportedly said.

In 2021, Nazri announced his retirement from politics after 26 years in the Dewan Rakyat.

His remark came after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously downplayed accusations of nepotism by saying that it is fine as long as one is not being paid for the post.

Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah was previously criticised for being named as the prime minister’s senior economics and finance adviser, but has since been invited to join the secretariat of the special advisory panel to the finance minister instead.

Nazri also reportedly confirmed that his name was put up for the ambassador role when Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was prime minister — with his name being proposed to the US in April last year, and the US accepted that September.

"Despite the criticism, it is important to me that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has given me the appointment, and the prime minister made an explanation that he had not appointed me, so there is no favouritism, no cronyism, no nepotism, which means I’m clean,” he reportedly said.

Anwar had come under fire for Nazri’s appointment, including from former ambassador to the Netherlands Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin and former Malaysian high commissioner to Canada Dennis Ignatius.

The prime minister then defended the appointment, saying it was made a year ago and the confirmation from Washington had arrived six months ago.