![](https://syndicates.s3.amazonaws.com/reuters/tag%253Areuters.com%252C2022%253Anewsml_LYNXMPEIB10K8%253A1.jpg)
Malaysia's newly appointed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday that he would also serve as the country's finance minister, retaking a cabinet role he first held 30 years ago.
He named Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Fadillah Yusof - two coalition partners - as co-deputy prime ministers.
Anwar was sworn in as premier by Malaysia's king last week, after an election that resulted in a hung parliament. He then formed a coalition government with the help of other political blocs.
![](https://syndicates.s3.amazonaws.com/reuters/tag%253Areuters.com%252C2022%253Anewsml_LYNXMPEIB10K9%253A1.jpg)
"This cabinet is a cabinet of a unity government," Anwar told a news conference. The ministers will be sworn in on Saturday, he said.
Anwar is looking to address rising costs and a slowing economy, and to ensure the stability of his coalition government. He had earlier indicated he would have a smaller cabinet than previous administrations.
Investors have cheered his appointment, hoping that Anwar can bring stability after a period of political uncertainty that saw three prime ministers in as many years.
![](https://syndicates.s3.amazonaws.com/reuters/tag%253Areuters.com%252C2022%253Anewsml_LYNXMPEIB10KA%253A1.jpg)
Anwar was appointed as finance minister in 1991 by the then prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad. He was later fired after the two disagreed over how to respond to a financial crisis across Asia.
(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff, A. Ananthalakshmi, Ebrahim Harris; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor, Ed Davies and Hugh Lawson)
![](https://syndicates.s3.amazonaws.com/reuters/tag%253Areuters.com%252C2022%253Anewsml_LYNXMPEIB108L%253A2.jpg)