Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said Mohamad would be ideal for the post as it must be filled by somebody with their finger on the pulse of the people.

“I suggest that the prime minister considers the proposal to appoint Mohamad as finance minister in the new Cabinet.

“Agree with this view?” he asked his followers on Facebook.

He said the appointment would also enable further implementation of popular aid measures like the loan moratorium, i-Citra Employees Provident Fund withdrawals and direct cash assistance.

“To fulfil these demands… (we) require a finance minister who is used to working with the people,” he said.

Tok Mat, as Mohamad is known as has worked with Bank Negara, Maybank, Arab-Malaysian Bank and Bank Bumiputera.

Ismail’s Cabinet line-up has been a topic of speculation since his appointment on Friday, and he has confirmed that he will name his line-up this week.

Prior to the resignation of former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Cabinet, the finance portfolio was held by former CIMB Group Holdings Berhad Group CEO, Senator Tengku Zafrul Aziz.