KUALA LUMPUR: Employees Provident Fund (EPF) chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, who is named the Finance Minister II, has shown enough ability and competence for the position.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed confidence in Amir Hamzah's leadership, highlighting his successful management of the retirement savings fund.
"I think that I have built this general consensus that the ministry (of finance), other than being headed by me, must have a strong professional team, to ensure that we are on the right track.
"This is also that focus on the economy is not to be sidelined or deflected by critical pressures.
"He (Amir Hamzah) has shown enough competence and ability (to be a minister). He has also managed the affairs of EPF in a very impressive and satisfactory manner."," he said.
Anwar said this during the announcement of the new cabinet line-up earlier, today.
Earlier, Amir Hamzah was sworn in as a senator in Dewan Negara and took his oath before the Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
He joined the EPF in 2021 and is the eldest son of former Petronas chairman and president Tun Azizan Zainul Abidin.
Prior to becoming EPF CEO, he had helmed Tenaga Nasional Bhd for several years since 2019.
With a corporate experience spanning more than 27 years, Amir Hamzah began his career with the Shell Group of Companies before serving as CEO for MISC Bhd.