Former Umno member Khairy Jamaluddin has criticised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, calling him a "part-time finance minister" while discussing the DuitNow QR controversy on his podcast, Keluar Sekejap. Khairy, who co-hosts the podcast with Shahril Hamdan, said that the controversy over the planned fee for merchants using the QR code to receive payment could have been avoided. He also expressed his concern about the lack of a full-time finance minister, stating that trivial matters like this should not be a burden on the work of the part-time prime minister.
DuitNow QR is a digital payment service provided by Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd, or PayNet, a company with several major commercial banks as shareholders, with Bank Negara Malaysia having the majority ownership. Anwar's move to name himself as finance minister last year was widely criticised as another of his about-turns on reforms. In the past, his Pakatan Harapan coalition had called for the post not to be in the hands of the prime minister and argued that the 1MDB saga had come about during Najib Razak's time because he was both the prime minister and finance minister controlling the scandal-tainted government company.
Khairy's criticism of Anwar comes amid speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle, with talk of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi being worried about the appointment of Titiwangsa MP Johari Abdul Ghani as the second finance minister. Zahid has proposed to the government to reinstate the federal territories ministry, hoping that Johari, who is not a loyalist of the Umno chief, would be given that position instead.
The lack of a full-time finance minister has been a concern for many Malaysians, with some arguing that it is essential to have a dedicated minister to oversee the country's economic policies and ensure their effective implementation. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the Malaysian economy, and many are looking to the government for guidance and support during these challenging times.
Khairy's comments have sparked a debate on social media, with some supporting his criticism of Anwar and others defending the prime minister's decision to take on the finance portfolio. Some have also questioned the effectiveness of the current government and its ability to address the country's economic challenges.
In conclusion, Khairy Jamaluddin's criticism of Anwar Ibrahim as a "part-time finance minister" highlights the concerns of many Malaysians about the lack of a full-time finance minister. The ongoing controversy over the DuitNow QR fee and the speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle has added to the uncertainty surrounding the country's economic policies. As Malaysia continues to grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential for the government to address these concerns and provide effective leadership to steer the country towards a brighter future.
felixwrite is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.