Speculations on the implications of Hishammuddin Hussein's new cabinet portfolio are unfounded and amusing, said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar.

"All the speculations, whether or not the speculation involving the prime minister (Najib Abdul Razak), deputy prime minister (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi), the upcoming Umno elections are completely unfounded, because we are all in support of the appointment.

"We need a strong senior leadership team to face the upcoming general election.

"Within Umno, we are quite amused by all the speculations and analysis that you have all been doing, because it is rather straightforward," he told a press conference in Putrajaya today...