KUALA LUMPUR, 23 April 2009: Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor is set to retain his party post while Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis may be the new Umno treasurer-general, according to several party sources here.
Jamaluddin recently secured a seat in the Umno supreme council (MT), the party’s powerful decision-making body, which has 25 elected members.
“Their names are likely to be announced after the supreme council meeting tomorrow,” a party insider said.
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will chair the meeting, his first after taking over as prime minister and Umno president recently.
Najib is also likely to appoint a new information chief. Several names have been mentioned as possible candidates, with the most prominent being Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Umno’s current treasurer-general is Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi while Tan Sri Muhammad Muhamad Taib is the information chief.
Party sources also said that at least three states are likely to see new state liaison chiefs, namely Perlis, Perak and Selangor.
The current Perak liaison chief is Najib, who is expected to hand over the post either to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Zambry Abdul Kadir or the current state deputy liaison chief, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
There is talk that the current Perlis Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu, may be appointed as the new state liaison chief while Najib himself might take over as the Selangor state liaison chief.
The current Perlis state liaison chief is Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim while Muhammad, who failed in his bid to become Umno deputy president recently, heads Selangor.
Muhammad, who previously held the rural and regional development ministerial portfolio, was also not included in the new cabinet line-up under Najib.
Many are also watching Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said, who is also the Terengganu state liaison chief, on whether he would be retained as he is said to be having problems with some Umno leaders in the state.
Najib is also expected to announce the names of 10 appointed supreme council members.
Today, Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, when asked on the meeting, declined to give details except confirming that there would be some changes to the party line-up.
“Just wait and see. There will definitely be changes,” he said, adding that they would be done to strengthen the party. — Bernama
