KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has tapped Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) chief strategy officer (CSO), Nurhisham Hussein to act as its point man on matters of economic policy, according to sources.
According to people close to the matter, Nurhisham has been appointed senior director of economics and finance in PMO effective October 2023.
Nurhisham will play a key advisory role, providing counsel to the Prime Minister on matters pertaining to the economy, businesses, small and medium enterprises (SME), investments, and related areas.
His secondment to the PMO, which will last for two years, was effective Oct 2.
His extensive experience in steering strategic initiatives at EPF positions him as a valuable advisor, especially at a time when economic considerations are paramount.
Nurhisham was part of the team which came up with the idea of having an Account 3 or a flexible account for EPF, to allow for withdrawals.
The initiative is slotted for implementation in 2024.
Additionally, insiders suggest that Nurhisham will spearhead programmes that directly engage the Prime Minister in discussions and initiatives aimed at driving economic growth, fostering investments, and supporting businesses.
The EPF, under Nurhisham's strategic guidance, has been recognised for its robust financial management and innovative investment strategies.
His transition to the PMO reflects not only his own capabilities but also the government's commitment to bringing in proven leaders to drive key initiatives.
Nurhisham was named chief strategy officer of EPF in January 2020 after serving the provident fund for five years in various roles.
He joined the EPF in 2014 as head of the economics and capital markets department, overseeing economic surveillance of over 20 economies across the globe, contributing to the investment process at EPF.
Nurhisham has also done a stint in Malaysian Rating Corporation Bhd (MARC) and Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB).
Nurhisham holds a BSc in Monetary Economics from the University of London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Masters in Economics from Universiti Malaya.