Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz has been revealed as the new BN secretary-general.

This took place at the MIC general assembly today, during which BN chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Nazri had been mandated to engage all opposition parties to build a strong coalition.

"We hand the mandate to Nazri, who is known as 'chief'. His duty is to meet with anyone in order to strengthen the opposition," Zahid said.

When contacted, Nazri told Malaysiakini that he was told about the secretary-general post three months ago.

"We just never made it public, but now there is an occasion, so we informed people about it.

"I'm a diplomat now," he said with a chuckle.

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Nazri also reiterated that he would begin his role by engaging all opposition parties. 

He added that BN's goal is to form the government either by the next general election or before that.

"So I have to find ways to do it," he said.

Nazri takes over from Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who held the position since 2009.

Previously, it was reported that Zahid had offered the position to Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin, who had turned it down.

Earlier at the MIC AGM, Zahid mooted a name change for BN as part of its efforts to recapture the government.