To date, the government did not pay any salary to Paul Stadlen,” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim told Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (PAS-Sepang) in a written reply.
Hanipa had asked for the amount paid to Stadlen, who was purportedly a member of the Prime Minister’s Office communications team.
However, the reply did not touch on whether Stadlen was part of the team…
DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang had submitted oral questions to Najib to confirm an allegation by whistle-blower site Sarawak Report that Stadlen was paid several millions a year by the government to spearhead the PM’s communications operations.
Stadlen used to head the Kuala Lumpur office of the international PR firm Apco Worldwide
Is the PM suggesting that Paul Stadlen is working as a volunteer?
As any foreign journalist in KL can confirm, Mr Stadlen is the ‘to go to man’ for official comment from the PM’s office – he even hands round a card identifying his role.
Why would he do this stuff for free, when previously he led the APCO team, who were doing the same job for millions of ringgit?
And how can the PMO explain this contract of USD420,000 for 6 months to Paul Stadlen’s company?
Are they lying????