[UPDATED] Anwar being finance minister avoids unhappiness in unity govt: Rafizi

PUTRAJAYA – The extraordinary political situation necessitated the prime minister to also take up the finance portfolio in a bid not to dissatisfy other parties within the unity government, Rafizi Ramli revealed today.

The newly minted economic affairs minister explained that had the position of finance minister been given to a leader of any one of the parties (or coalitions), it could have caused dissatisfaction among the others.

“For instance, if someone from Pakatan Harapan (PH) became the minister, there would have been problems with Barisan Nasional (BN). If it was given to BN, then there would have been problems with PH,” he said in his maiden press conference as a cabinet member today.

“Because of the extraordinary situation now, the decision (to have the prime minister hold the finance minister portfolio) is appropriate at the moment.

“It’s easier for the prime minister to be the finance minister so there won’t be any issues with the other components. But I hope as we move forward and put everything in place, the situation now is an exception, not the norm.”

Rafizi was asked to comment on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s decision to appoint himself as finance minister during the announcement of his cabinet on Friday.

The decision has been panned by various quarters. Critics warn that this gives Anwar tremendous power. Rafizi himself had also been a strong proponent of separating the two portfolios.

Prior to Anwar, Datuk Seri Najib Razak was the last prime minister to also hold the portfolio of finance minister.

During Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s second prime ministerial stint following PH’s 2018 election victory, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was appointed to oversee the Finance Ministry.

Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz later succeeded Lim, holding the post under both the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob governments.

Rafizi said that, while his stand has not changed – in that the two portfolios should ideally be separated – the situation today is pressing and extraordinary as no single party or coalition commands a simple majority to form the government.

He added that the country also needed strong leadership to push the economy forward, hence Anwar’s appointment.

Budget re-tabling in next two months

On a separate matter, Rafizi revealed that the re-tabling of the national budget is expected in the “next one or two months”.

The PKR deputy president also confirmed that a mini-budget will be tabled in the upcoming two-day sitting on December 19 and 20, specifically involving the allocation for civil servants’ emoluments.

He said this when asked for updates on his plans regarding the government’s development expenditure for next year.

“We’ve gone through it, but just at the macro level, so it’s premature to (say it) now. But we are going through the process anyway because the government will be giving emolument budget in the next sitting, while the full budget will be tabled in one or two months.”

Meanwhile, commenting on his immediate priorities as economic affairs minister, Rafizi said among other things, the Economic Planning Unit aims to pay greater attention to economic activities that could help push the country into the high-income nation bracket.

A lot of focus will also be given to less well-off states with a high number of poor households, as well as to the most economically vulnerable groups in society.

“Looking at what the plan is, I do have it that the civil servants are trying their best and have covered all the necessary areas. What we need to ensure is there is strong cohesion from the government’s top leadership all the way down.

“This is to ensure all plans are carried out accordingly, and our message is communicated well. Then, I think we can have the momentum to ensure the country can focus on building the economy.” – The Vibes, December 5, 2022