In a bid to wrest vital opposition-held areas in the Klang valley, Umno president Najib Abdul Razak has decided to continue leading the Selangor Umno leadership, while his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin also retains the Federal Territory Umno liason chief post.

NONE The move by Najib and Muhyiddin ( right ) to lead the two important Pakatan Rakyat held state posts is seen as an on-going assault to reclaim Selangor and Federal Territories in the face of an upcoming general election.

Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor made the announcement today that included changes to the Penang, Terengganu and Kedah Umno liasion chief posts effective Jan 1.

“This appointment is made at the behest of the president. He could make changes at any time,” he said at a press conference at the party’s headquarters today.

He also announced that Nibong Tebal Umno division chief Zainal Abidin Osman will be the new Penang Umno liason chief, replacing Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, while Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Said takes over from another vice-president, Hishammuddin Hussein.

Meanwhile in Kedah, its former liaison deputy chief Ahmad Bashah Hanipah takes over from vice-president Shafie Apdal, while as expected Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Mukhriz Mahathir will be Ahmad Bashah's deputy.

The appointment of Zainal Abidin, Ahmad Bashah and Ahmad Said will enable the vice-presidents to focus more on their role in the central bureaus, says Tengku Adnan.

'Problems created by media'

Tengku Adnan also dismissed the problems that were said to have been brewing among the state Umno leaders as something that was created by the media.

“There are no problems, it is (the media) who said there were problems,” he chuckled.

He is also confident that Shahidan would be able to help the party in Perlis as the new deputy state liaison chief, and added that the appointment of Mukhriz, who is also Jerlun MP, is crucial to attract young voters.

“We are confident in Datuk Mukhriz because he has certain influence,” said Tengku Adnan when asked to comment on the appointment of the former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad’s son.

He added that the new liaison chiefs are expected to immediately appoint a secretary, an information chief and a state treasurer.

“(Umno) will provide input for them to appoint people with good standing, who can work for the party,” he said.

The state liaison committees are also expected to hold meetings once every two months, he said.

List of Umno state chiefs 2011