KUALA LUMPUR: In the midst of the 12th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review debate session at the Dewan Rakyat today (Tuesday), opposition leader, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin had suggested the Tititwangsa Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani to be appointed as the Finance Minister II.
The suggestion was made following Putrajaya MP, Datuk Dr.Radzi Md. Jidin in his intervention while Hamzah was leading the debate had mentioned that the post is important to enable the Unity Government to focus fully on the administration and management of the ministry.
In the intervention Radzi said he received complaints from civil servants claiming that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is also the Minister of Finance had once announced something which was different from what had been said earlier and that had made them in a difficult situation.
Radzi added, this situation happened as the Prime Minister who is also the Finance Minister is often occupied meeting the people all over the country.
The suggestion however had the attention of the UMNO Vice-President, Johari who was also the former Finance Minister II who said cynically that he wants that post as the Minister of Finance I and not II.
Johari said that when he intervened Hamzah the Larut MP who was debating on the 12th MP Mid-Term Review at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Following that, Hamzah had requested the Speaker, Tan Sri Johari Abdul to include Johari’s intervention in his debate.
Hamzah then withdrew his earlier suggestion for Pontian MP, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan to be appointed as the Finance Minister I but instead Finance Minister II.
According to Hamzah, the Finance Minister II post is not new as it had been practiced during the premiership of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad who had appointed Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed to fill the post. –Malaysia World News
