Speaker's Profile

Minister of Plantation and Commodities, Malaysia
Vice President, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Chartered Accountant | Former Minister of Finance II

YB Datuk Seri Johari bin Abdul Ghani is Malaysia’s Minister of Plantation and Commodities, where he leads national policy on one of the country’s most strategic sectors—covering palm oil, rubber, timber, cocoa, and other agri-based commodities critical to global trade and sustainability. He was appointed to the role in December 2023 and also currently oversees the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability in an acting capacity.

A trained chartered accountant, Datuk Seri Johari holds a Fellowship from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), United Kingdom. Prior to his political career, he spent over two decades in the corporate sector, serving on the boards of UDA Holdings Berhad, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, and the Malaysia Economic Council, among others. He is currently also Chairman of the 1MDB Asset Recovery Task Force.

From 2016 to 2018, he served as Malaysia’s Minister of Finance II, following his tenure as Deputy Minister of Finance from 2015 to 2016. His leadership was instrumental in fiscal governance, economic strategy, and strengthening investor confidence during a critical period of Malaysia’s financial transformation.

Datuk Seri Johari is also an active investor and corporate leader. Through his private investment vehicle, JAG Capital Holdings, he has significant holdings in key Malaysian corporates, including Media Prima Berhad and CI Holdings Berhad. His focus on good governance and transparency is widely recognized within both political and business circles.

As Vice President of UMNO and Treasurer-General of Barisan Nasional (BN), Datuk Seri Johari plays a pivotal role in shaping the political-economic agenda of Malaysia. He is a strong proponent of sustainable development, championing the advancement of MSPO (Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil) 2.0 to align the industry with evolving ESG standards and global traceability benchmarks.

Fluent in both corporate and governmental spheres, Datuk Seri Johari brings a rare blend of financial expertise, policy acumen, and strategic vision. His work today is focused on strengthening Malaysia’s position in global commodity markets while ensuring inclusive growth and environmental sustainability.

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