Malaysian minister says Anwar can casually come up with project

Mr Rafizi said that the situation is different now and that a prime minister, who has a finance portfolio, can casually come up with a project and borrow RM 40 billion US $9.1 billion.

The Pandan member of parliament said that this is a unity government, there is no absolute power held by a single party.

Najib was convicted of the misappropriation of RM 42 million from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1 Malaysia Development Berhad 1 MDB Barisan Nasional BN, and was voted out of the 2018 elections due to public anger over the scandal.

In a press conference on Monday, Mr Rafizi said that the decision for Mr Anwar to hold the finance portfolio in addition to being prime minister was made under extraordinary circumstances in the unity government.

It was a tough decision to make. He told reporters that it was likely that the various parties who form the government wanted the finance minister post to be on their side.

Mr Rafizi reiterated his position that the prime minister post and finance minister post should be kept separate. He expressed hope that the current government would only do this as a temporary arrangement.

Separately, Mr Anwar told a press conference at the prime minister's office on Monday that his Cabinet ministers have agreed to take a 20 per cent cut in their monthly salaries.

Some people say that Anwar will take the prime minister's salary, but he will take the salary of the finance minister. He said there is only one salary.

The Cabinet line-up, which comprises 28 ministers, was unveiled last Friday. The list of deputy ministers hasn't been announced yet.