Newly minted Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has not been included in the new cabinet line-up by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

khairy jamaluddin umno youth chief 250309 To add salt to the injury, Mukhriz Mahathir, who lost to Khairy in the contest for the Umno Youth top post, has been appointed deputy international trade and industry minister.

Driving the dagger deeper, Najib also announced that Umno Youth deputy chief Razali Ibrahim was appointed deputy youth and sports minister.

Furthermore, the new premier had included the heads of the other Umno wings - Wanita and Puteri - in his cabinet.

Since his victory in last month's Umno elections, speculations have been rife on whether Khairy - the son-in-law of former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - would be included in the new cabinet.

One of the biggest critics of Khairy - who was strongly opposed to the 33-year-old being given a ministerial portfolio - was Mukhriz's father and Abdullah's predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

umno youth 2009 agm 250309 mukhriz However, he yesterday denied that he had put pressure on Najib to name his youngest son as a minister and not to include Khairy in the new line-up.

By convention, the Umno Youth chief is given a full ministership. Former Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein was education minister during his tenure.

Khairy has another task

When contacted, Khairy said he was not upset for being overlooked by Najib as he was given another task by the premier.

The MP for Rembau said that he had a meeting with Najib yesterday and was told to concentrate on strengthening the party.

"The Umno president wants me to concentrate on party work. He has given me the task to attract more young voters to support Umno and BN.

"I thank the president for choosing me with this task and I would dedicate my work towards strengthening the party," he told Malaysiakini .

"It's a difficult time that requires extraordinary measures... I have been asked by the prime minister to focus on the party and I accept the challenge," said Khairy.

He also thanked Najib for picking his deputy from Umno Youth Razali Ibrahim as deputy youth and sports minister.

According to the Umno Youth chief, the new cabinet contained good ministers and deputy ministers who were capable of helping the prime minister's agenda for reforms.

Khairy hoped the new cabinet would work hard in realising the objectives and aspirations of the people of Malaysia.

He however refused to comment on whether he thought former premier Mahathir had had influence over the cabinet line-up.