Outgoing Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz may have failed to see an internal officer taking over her post, as a Finance Ministry top official has reportedly been earmarked for the job.

The Wall Street Journal today cited sources, including a cabinet minister, as saying the Finance Ministry’s Irwan Serigar Abdullah is likely to be named as Zeti’s successor next week.

The US financial daily noted that Irwan sits on the board of advisers of the embattled 1MDB, which has been saddled with controversy.

Irwan is also presently secretary to the ministry’s treasury and a member of Bank Negara’s board of directors.

Meanwhile Zeti, whose term ends on April 30 after a 16-year tenure, said Bank Negara has submitted its own candidate.