Malaysian finance minister quits amid cabinet reshuffle

By P Prem Kumar

KUALA LUMPUR (AA) – Malaysia's second finance minister resigned Monday due to “personal reasons”, a week after the country's anti-graft commission chief opted for early retirement.

Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah relinquished his position with immediate effect due to undisclosed factors and would be succeeded by former corporate leader Johari Abdul Ghani in a larger cabinet reshuffle.

Razak, who also serves as the first finance minister, told reporters in administrative capital Putrajaya that Hanadzlah had previously informed of his decision to leave.

"Husni has informed me of his wish to retire, so I respect that. He is quite ready to retire... I would like to thank him for all his service to the government and the country."

Last Thursday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) announced that its chief Abu Kassim Mohamed had decided to quit his position effective August, 18 months before his current tenure is due to expire.

The departure came after Mohamed repeatedly requested to leave due to unknown reasons, according to the MACC, which is presently probing alleged irregularities involving indebted state wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) -- Razak's brainchild.

In Monday’s reshuffle, Razak named two new ministers -- Hanadzlah’s successor Ghani and Razak loyalist Noh Omar -- and four deputy ministers to his Cabinet.

The latest reshuffle is the third since Razak retained his position as prime minister after the 13th General Election in 2013.

During the last reshuffle in July 2105, his then deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin -- who had criticized Razak’s handling of controversies surrounding 1MDB and a $681 million “political donation” found in his personal accounts -- was replaced by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Last week, Yassin was sacked from the Razak-led United Malays National Organization (UMNO) alongside ex-state Chief Minister Mukhriz Mahathir, the son of former premier and Razak's fiercest critic Mahathir Mohamad.

Yassin joined imprisoned former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as the only two deputy prime ministers sacked while holding positions.

Last year’s cabinet shake-up saw Ghani, a 52-year-old certified accountant, appointed as deputy finance minister.

Razak had handpicked Ghani's predecessor Hanadzlah, 63, as second finance minister upon becoming prime minister in April 2009.