Khairy and Dzulkefly pledge to help new Health Minister

PETALING JAYA: The two immediate former health ministers have pledged to work together and support newly appointed Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

In a tweet on Saturday, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who is also Kuala Selangor MP, said Khairy Jamaluddin had contacted him via Whatsapp to express his disappointment that Dr Dzulkefly was overlooked for the post.

“No qualms not (being) in Cabinet, so long (as) l can help get Health Reform done,” he wrote in his post.

Tagging Khairy in his tweet, Dr Dzulkefly said Khairy had messaged him to say he had wanted Dzulkefly back as the health minister.

Dr Dzulkefly said he replied that he was a perpetual optimist.

Khairy then stated his intention of working together with Dr Dzulkefly to help guide the new Health Minister.

“I said, yes!” Dr Dzulkefly said to Khairy’s proposal to help Dr Zaliha, who is also Sekijang MP.

In an earlier tweet, Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy chief executive officer Azrul Mohd Khalib lauded Dr Dzulkefly as a great example and role model of public service.

“I salute and pay respects to Dr Dzul who delayed his retirement to fight and win to retain his Kuala Selangor seat in the recent GE,” he tweeted.

In the 15th General Election, Dr Dzulkefly defeated Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, who is former finance minister, for the Kuala Selangor federal seat.

Khairy, meanwhile, lost to Pakatan Harapan’s Datuk R. Ramanan in the Sungai Buloh seat.