There is no provision in Malaysian law or the Federal Constitution requiring the positions of Prime Minister and Finance Minister to be held by separate individuals, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said.
Speaking during Question Time in the Dewan Negara on Monday, Azalina said the appointment of Cabinet ministers falls under the Prime Minister’s discretion, including the decision on who should serve as Finance Minister.
“The power to appoint Cabinet ministers rests with the Prime Minister. Therefore, it is up to the Prime Minister of the day to decide who will hold the various ministerial portfolios, including the Finance Ministry,” she said.
She was responding to a supplementary question from Senator Hussin Ismail, who asked whether the government would consider introducing legislation to ensure the roles of Prime Minister and Finance Minister cannot be held by the same person.
Azalina said the issue was not merely about the positions themselves but also about the individual entrusted with the responsibilities. She argued that a capable Prime Minister would be able to exercise sound judgement regardless of whether both roles were held by one person.
“If a Prime Minister believes the same individual should hold both positions during a particular administration, that decision rests with the Prime Minister. There is no legal provision or constitutional requirement mandating that the two posts must be separated,” she said.
Earlier, Hussin noted that separating the roles of Prime Minister and Finance Minister has been a recurring topic of political debate over several administrations and often resurfaces during election periods. He asked whether there was room for the government to introduce a Bill to settle the issue once and for all.
