PETALING JAYA: Khairy Jamaluddin says he had proposed in a meeting with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that a second finance minister be appointed if the premier continues to hold the portfolio.
The former health minister revealed this in the latest episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast, which he co-hosts with Shahril Hamdan, and featured Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
“I gave a few proposals. Even if he (Anwar) didn’t want to let go of the Finance Minister post, he should at least appoint a second finance minister,” Khairy said.
He was referring to a meeting with Anwar and Umno vice president and former finance minister II Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani last month.
He added that the previous prime ministers, who held the finance portfolio, had appointed a second minister.
He said this is because the finance minister’s daily duties are quite heavy and there are certain matters according to statutory responsibility, which only a minister can handle and a deputy can’t.
“No matter how talented the person is, he cannot be chief executive officer and the chief financial officer. But if he wants to be, he has to have a second person,” Khairy said while posing a question to Nik Nazmi on whether Anwar should relinquish the finance portfolio.
Nik Nazmi said the proposal for a second finance minister could be considered.
On whether Anwar should vacate the finance minister post, the PKR vice president said there was no need at this juncture as the economic conditions are still challenging.
Other former prime ministers, who held the premiership and finance portfolios concurrently, were Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Razak. All three appointed a second finance minister.
