KUALA LUMPUR: Titiwangsa member of parliament Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani should be appointed second finance minister to help Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said Khairy Jamaluddin.
The former health minister said he "strongly advocates" for Johari to hold the post, adding that no individual had the bandwidth to be prime minister and finance minister at the same time.
"I think after the state elections, Johari should be made second finance minister.
"To me, every time a prime minister holds the finance minister portfolio, there is a second finance minister," he said in his 'Keluar Sekejap' podcast.
Khairy said when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister and finance minister, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed was the second finance minister.
It was the same situation when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Razak held both posts, when they appointed Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, and Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah respectively.
During Najib's second term as prime minister, Johari was appointed as second finance minister.
Khairy said a finance minister would have to make many decisions and sign many documents daily, adding that based on the law, only a minister was authorised to give approval.
"A second finance minister is a full minister, and will be in the cabinet.
"Anwar is a very talented politician, we can agree on that. But no matter how talented you are, no person has the bandwidth to take on both posts as prime minister and finance minister.
"I would strongly advocate (for Johari)... if Anwar does not want to take someone from the outside (technocrats), then Johari is your choice," he added.
Khairy was earlier discussing Johari's recent queries in the Dewan Rakyat on the track record of companies which had signed a number of memoranda of understanding with Chinese corporations during Anwar's working visit in March.
He said Johari would not have made such remarks if he had not carried out his due diligence.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/05/914647/johari-should-be-second-finance-minister-says-kj
Created by savemalaysia | Mar 29, 2024
Created by savemalaysia | Mar 29, 2024
Created by savemalaysia | Mar 29, 2024
Created by savemalaysia | Mar 29, 2024
Created by savemalaysia | Mar 29, 2024
Created by savemalaysia | Mar 29, 2024
Created by savemalaysia | Mar 29, 2024