Malaysia PM Anwar to helm finance ministry

[December 02, 2022]  KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's newly appointed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday that he would also serve as the country's finance minister, retaking a cabinet role he first held 30 years ago.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during a news conference announcing his cabinet at Putrajaya, Malaysia December 2, 2022. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain

He named Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Fadillah Yusof - two coalition partners - as co-deputy prime ministers.

Anwar was sworn in as premier by Malaysia's king last week, after an election that resulted in a hung parliament. He then formed a coalition government with the help of other political blocs.

"This cabinet is a cabinet of a unity government," Anwar told a news conference. The ministers will be sworn in on Saturday, he said.

Anwar is looking to address rising costs and a slowing economy, and to ensure the stability of his coalition government. He had earlier indicated he would have a smaller cabinet than previous administrations.

Investors have cheered his appointment, hoping that Anwar can bring stability after a period of political uncertainty that saw three prime ministers in as many years.

Anwar was appointed as finance minister in 1991 by the then prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad. He was later fired after the two disagreed over how to respond to a financial crisis across Asia.

(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff, A. Ananthalakshmi, Ebrahim Harris; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor, Ed Davies and Hugh Lawson)

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