Wan Saiful Calls on Rafizi to Reintroduce Bill Dividing PM and Finance Minister Roles

Penang MP Wan Saiful Shamsuddin calls on PKR’s Rafizi Ramli to collaborate on reintroducing legislation to prevent the prime minister from holding the finance portfolio simultaneously.

KUALA LUMPUR : Penang MP Wan Saiful Shamsuddin has invited PKR strategist Rafizi Ramli to jointly revive a parliamentary bill aimed at separating the roles of prime minister and finance minister, arguing that concentrating both powers in one office undermines checks and balances in government.

Speaking to reporters today, Wan Saiful stressed that the prime minister simultaneously holding the finance portfolio creates a conflict of interest and centralises too much power, limiting parliamentary oversight of national budgets and expenditure. He called on Rafizi, who had previously championed similar reforms, to collaborate in drafting a revised bill that could be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.

“This is not about politics; it’s about strengthening governance and transparency,” Wan Saiful said. “We need proper institutional safeguards to ensure the country’s finances are managed independently and professionally.”

Rafizi, who previously raised concerns over the dual role in Parliament, welcomed the proposal, saying that the bill could prevent future leaders from concentrating fiscal and executive powers in one person, which he described as a structural flaw in Malaysia’s system.

The proposal comes amid ongoing public debate about government accountability, fiscal transparency, and institutional reforms. Analysts say separating these two roles could enhance parliamentary scrutiny and reduce the risk of unchecked decision-making, particularly in national budget allocation and financial oversight.

No official timeline has been given for when the revised bill will be tabled, but both MPs emphasized that cross-party collaboration is essential for meaningful legislative reform.