updated version

The government today named Jamaluddin Jarjis, chairman of national power firm Tenaga Nasional, as the second finance minister.

Jamaluddin's appointment has been approved by the king and he will be sworn-in on Thursday, the Prime Minister's Department said in a statement released through Bernama news agency.

His appointment was proposed by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who took over the finance portfolio after Daim Zainuddin resigned in June last year, the department said.

The move is seen as part of a move by the 76-year-old veteran premier to cut down his work load and prepare for his retirement in October 2003, analysts said.