In a recent episode of the podcast "Keluar Sekejap," former Umno member Khairy Jamaluddin voiced his concerns about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's dual role as both prime minister and finance minister. Khairy, who co-hosts the podcast with Shahril Hamdan, expressed his views on the DuitNow QR controversy, highlighting that such issues could have been avoided with a full-time finance minister.
The DuitNow QR controversy revolves around the proposed fee for merchants utilizing the QR code for payment receipts. Khairy suggested that in a scenario where there is no dedicated finance minister and the prime minister is juggling both roles, minor matters like this should not burden the already occupied part-time prime minister.
DuitNow QR, a digital payment service managed by Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet), is backed by major commercial banks, with Bank Negara Malaysia holding majority ownership.
Anwar's decision to assume the role of finance minister last year received widespread criticism, viewed as a reversal of his earlier stance on governmental reforms. Previously, his Pakatan Harapan coalition advocated for the separation of the prime minister and finance minister positions, citing the 1MDB scandal during Najib Razak's tenure as an example of the risks associated with consolidating power in one individual.
Meanwhile, Khairy also discussed speculations surrounding the potential Cabinet reshuffle and the concerns of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi regarding the appointment of Titiwangsa MP Johari Abdul Ghani as the second finance minister. Zahid's proposal to reinstate the federal territories ministry was seen as a strategic move to potentially place Johari in that position, given his perceived lack of loyalty to the Umno leader.
This critique from Khairy sheds light on the challenges posed by the dual role undertaken by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, particularly in handling crucial financial matters for the nation. The DuitNow QR controversy serves as a stark example of an issue that could have been preemptively addressed with a full-time finance minister at the helm. As discussions on potential Cabinet reshuffles continue, the dynamics within Umno leadership are also coming into play, further shaping the political landscape of Malaysia.
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