PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today confirmed that the Finance Ministry's secretary-general will be replaced, describing the move as a "common shuffle".
"It (the replacement of Treasury secretary-general Datuk Seri Asri Hamidin) is just a normal change. It also involved the promotion and transfer (of personnel) across departments," Anwar said after announcing the line-up of deputy ministers here today.
He further said the replacement of the Treasury secretary-general was not as reported in the media.
Anwar added that the new appointment will be decided by the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
It was previously reported that Asri, 56, who was appointed in 2020 was 'placed on leave' as he was not seen during the welcoming ceremony for the Prime Minister, who is also Finance Minister, on Dec 6.
Anwar had mentioned a discussion about the position of national financial advisor with a new Treasury secretary-general in a press conference earlier.
He also clarified that existing legal provisions gave the Chief Secretary the authority to handle the matter of secretaries-general and other senior officials from ministries that have been combined under his current administration.
Under the current Unity Government, four ministries have been merged into two and one portfolio abolished.
The Federal Territories Ministry and the Rural Development Ministry have been combined to become the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, while the Environment and Water Ministry has been combined with the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry to be the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry.
The Minister in Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) has been abolished.