Firdausi Suffian of Sabah UiTM and former treasury official Ramon Navaratnam said it reflected good governance on Hajiji’s part since finance was an important portfolio. Firdausi said separating the functions of chief minister and finance minister would ensure checks and balances in the state’s finances.“It allows Hajiji to focus on the overall management of the state,” he told FMT.
Noting that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim holds the post of finance minister as well, he said this meant, in principle, that there was no check and balance.“Though his reasons might be political, it’s not good for governance. It’s a concentration of power. A chief minister, menteri besar or prime minister should not hold the powerful finance portfolio,” he said.