KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 — Having lost his bid for a vice-presidency in the last month’s Umno elections, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir yesterday failed to secure one of nine appointee slots on the party’s supreme council.
In an announcement yesterday, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor confirmed that Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin and Lembah Pantai division chief Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin were all re-appointed.
New appointees were Titiwangsa MP and UDA Holdings Berhad chairman Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani, Uztaz Mohammad Kazim Elias, Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim, Prof. Tan Sri Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah, Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin.
“I believe their varied experience and ability to work as a team with those who won in the October party election will drive Umno further.
“For instance, Kazim and Asyraf can give their input on religious matters. Irmohizam, a former student leader, can assist the party to get close with youths while Johari’s corporate experience can benefit the party, too,” Tengku Adnan was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.
He said the new members will take their oath of office at a special supreme council meeting after the party’s general assembly concluded on December 4.
It was earlier rumoured that Mukhriz would gain a spot on the powerful body, after the son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had publicly expressed hope that he would be appointed following his defeat in the elections.
“I don’t think that with the results I’m suddenly totally out of the picture. It’s my hope that party president will still consider giving me a place in the Umno supreme council so that I too can contribute towards ensuring we can do better in the 14th general election,” he told reporters at the Putra World Trade Centre on October 19.
Mukhriz was edged out by Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for third vice-president’s spot, while Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal took the first and second places.
