The MEA, which is headed by Mohamed Azmin Ali, said the main agency it took over was the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) which was previously under the PMD’s purview.

Other agencies and departments placed under the ministry were economy-related and previously supervised by ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department.

“As such, there is no question of the ministry usurping the jurisdiction of other ministries as claimed,” the ministry said in a written reply to Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) in the Dewan Rakyat.

Wee had asked how the MEA could overcome the problem of overlapping jurisdiction with the MOF after taking over many areas of responsibilities previously within the latter’s portfolio.

MEA pointed out there was a difference between a company in which the government has a stake and the management of the company or agency itself.

It said there were 68 companies where the Minister of Finance Inc is the direct majority shareholder, but not all companies are under the MOF.

“For example, Institut Jantung Negara Holdings Sdn Bhd is regulated by the health ministry. As for the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), it comes under the communications and multimedia ministry.”