Zairil is Guan Eng’s aide

KUALA LUMPUR: Zairil Khir Johari (pic), the son of the late former Education Minister Tan Sri Mohd Khir Johari, has been appointed the political secretary to the DAP secretary-general.

Lim Guan Eng said that Zairil, 28, who joined the party six months ago, would be based at the DAP secretariat here and assist him with political matters at the party and national level.

“We appointed him not because of his race, but because of his attributes and qualifications.

“He is also learned, especially in international relations and diplomacy.

“He just happens to be a Malay,” Lim said when asked if Zairil was appointed to en­­courage more Malays to join DAP.

Lim added that DAP had always reached out to people of various races and was not anti-Malay as some had propagated.

“Competency is race-blind and not race-specific,” he said.

He added that his children’s doctor was a Malay but he was the best.

Zairil, a father of one, has a Masters in Arts in International Studies and Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the Univer­sity of London.

He also has a degree in information systems engineering and was a chocolate making entrepreneur.

He introduced full-coloured chocolate printing technology in Malaysia.

Zairil, from Penang, said he had been observing DAP for some time before joining the party.

He hoped to help DAP achieve its goal for an equitable Malaysia for all races.

“Politics has always been my passion.

“I share the views of many young people that Malaysia is going in the wrong way.

“I want to do something about it,” he said.