Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said he was still in charge of the finance ministry despite the recent appointment of a second finance minister.

Mahathir, who has pledged to step down in October 2003, said the appointment of Jamaludin Jarjis was to help reduce his workload.

"I have so much to do in the finance ministry... having to meet people, papers to read. As such, Jamaludin will be able to reduce my workload," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency on his return from Paris.

Mahathir took over the finance portfolio after Daim Zainuddin resigned in June last year.

Jamaluddin, national power firm Tenaga Nasional's former chief, was appointed as part of a mini cabinet reshuffle that included the promotion of two Mahathir loyalists.

His appointment took the political and business communities by surprise and was seen as paving the way for Mahathir's retirement, analysts said.

But they said the move would not lead to any policy changes as key decisions still rest with the 76-year-old veteran premier, who is to hand over power to his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after 22 years at the helm. AFP