PETALING JAYA: Khairy Jamaluddin suggests that a second finance minister should be appointed if the current prime minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, continues to hold the finance portfolio. Khairy disclosed this in the latest episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast, which he co-hosts with Shahril Hamdan, featuring Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
“I proposed a few ideas. Even if Anwar doesn’t want to give up the Finance Minister position, he should at least appoint a second finance minister,” Khairy said.
He was referring to a meeting with Anwar and former finance minister II Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani from Umno, which took place last month.
Khairy added that previous prime ministers who held the finance portfolio had appointed a second minister. This is because the daily responsibilities of the finance minister are quite demanding, with certain matters that can only be handled by a minister and not a deputy, according to statutory responsibility.
“No matter how talented a person is, they cannot be both the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer. But if they want to be, they need a second person,” Khairy asked Nik Nazmi if Anwar should give up the finance portfolio.
Nik Nazmi stated that the proposal for a second finance minister could be considered.
Regarding whether Anwar should step down from the finance minister position, the PKR vice president stated that it is not necessary at this time due to the ongoing challenging economic conditions.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who all served as prime ministers and held the finance portfolios concurrently, had appointed a second finance minister.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
