KUALA LUMPUR: Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli today rejected a suggestion by an opposition member of parliament (MP) that the finance minister and prime minister should not be the same person, and that a full-time finance minister must be appointed.
He said the prime minister is the best person to ensure a transparent procurement process, and this is what the unity government is doing to avoid issues that happened under previous federal administrations.
"The finance ministry is responsible for ensuring that procurement is conducted transparently.
"Hence, the best person (to shoulder this responsibility) is the prime minister himself. He is responsible to ensure good governance and a transparent procurement process," he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Bersatu-Pagoh) who asked if it is time for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to appoint a full-time Finance Minister to manage the country's economy.
Muhyiddin said some people, including analysts have expressed concern over the progress of the country's economic recovery. He also suggested for Rafizi to be appointed to the post.
Rafizi also rejected claims by certain quarters that any failure in the economic recovery was due to the prime minister holding the finance minister portfolio.
The Pandan MP said in the past, prime ministers who held the finance ministry portfolio had centralised everything, resulting in insufficient time for effective action.
He said the current government stopped this practice.
"Right now, in terms of job distribution, a significant portion especially in terms of economic planning and medium- to long-term policies, is determined by the Economy Ministry.
"Implementation is carried out in collaboration with ministries that have been mandated to implement it," he said, adding the finance ministry is responsible for managing fiscal developments.
Rafizi questioned Muhyiddin for accusing the government of lacking in any proper economic recovery plans.
"I would like to ask Pagoh this, when Pagoh and Perikatan Nasional (PN) were in power for 33 months, was there three consecutive quarters of economic growth?
"This is the first time (it has happened). Furthermore, we recorded a low unemployment rate and a drop in the number of hardcore poor.
"So, where was it shown that we (the unity government) failed? Our recovery is ongoing and there's improvement in investors' confidence.
"If Pagoh and PN are not confident (with the economy recovery), that is fine, but do not make such claims by using the name of the people and investors," he said.
