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.

Former engineer

In addition to the posts of finance minister and second finance minister, there are two deputy finance ministers, Dr Shafie Salleh and Chan Kong Choy.

Jamaluddin, 51, an engineer by training, would be the second person to be appointed as second finance minister.

Mustapa Mohamed, the executive director of the National Economic Action Council, was tapped for the newly created post in 1998 days after the sacking of then finance minister and deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

He held the post for about one year and was later appointed Umno party chief in Kelantan.

Jamaluddin, who is born in Pekan, Pahang, is member of parliament for Rompin.