KUALA TERENGGANU: State Umno liaison chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid is prepared to relinquish the position in favour of a more qualified Terengganu native.
Kedah-born Mahdzir, who assumed the role from former mentri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman on July 14, said he did not wish to hold the position for an extended period.
“I would suggest that a qualified local takes up this role soon and continues fighting for the party’s cause,” he said.
Mahdzir, who is also an Umno vice-president, said this after chairing the state Umno liaison committee meeting at the Umno Terengganu headquarters here.
This is his first time chairing the meeting since he assumed the role following leadership changes made by party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The two-hour meeting was attended by all state division chiefs, including state liaison deputy chairman and Dungun chief Datuk Din Adam as well as Kemaman division chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, who is also a former mentri besar.
A former Education Minister, Mahdzir said he would relinquish his role to his successor at the “appropriate time”.
He also dismissed rumours that he was forced to do so by members who were dissatisfied that the top party position in the state was given to an outsider.
“I'm doing this in the spirit of the party and I believe that a Terengganu native would be better equipped to bring the party forward in the state as well as make the right preparations for the next general election,” he said.
Mahdzir’s appointment raised speculations of dissatisfaction among state members who were adamant that the role be given to a Terengganu local.
Talk was also rife that the role would have gone to Kemaman chief Ahmad as he had helmed the position before it was passed down to his successor, Ahmad Razif.
