Hamzah proposes Johari be appointed second Finance Minister
DIANA AZIS
KUALA LUMPUR - Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin proposed on Tuesday that Titiwangsa MP Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, be appointed as Finance Minister II.
This suggestion comes in response to a recommendation by Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (PN-Putrajaya) to create the position, allowing the government to fully concentrate on the administration of the ministry.
The matter drew attention from Umno's deputy president, who is also a former Finance Minister II.
He interjected with a somewhat humorous remark, expressing his desire for the position, saying, "I want to be the first, not the second."
This occurred during a discussion among Larut MP concerning the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12) in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
In response, Hamzah requested that Johari's interjection be included in his speech, stating, "Mr. Speaker, please include Titiwangsa's aspiration to become the First Finance Minister in my speech."
Additionally, Hamzah withdrew a previous suggestion to appoint Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan as the first Finance Minister and instead proposed him as the Finance Minister II.
The position of Finance Minister II is not new and has been practiced during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's tenure who appointed Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed to the role, and the fifth Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who continued this tradition by appointing Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop to the same position.
