Zahid-Najib loyalists roped into Umno supreme council

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has co-opted five allies into the party's supreme council in his first major move after returning from garden leave.

The five are Batu Pahat Umno chief Mohd Puad Zarkashi, Hulu Langat Umno chief Johan Abd Aziz, Bagan Umno chief Shaik Hussein Mydin, Sepanggar Umno chief Yaakub Khan and Seputeh Umno vice-chief Razlan Rafii.

Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa announced the new appointees today and said they would assume their roles with immediate effect. 

Apart from Shaik Hussein, the other four are believed to also be strong supporters of former Umno president Najib Abdul Razak.

The Bagan and Sepanggar Umno chiefs are both seen to be close to Zahid.

Puad, meanwhile, was the former director-general of the Special Affairs Department before the agency was disbanded following Pakatan Harapan's win in the 14th general election (GE14).

He is a strong Najib supporter who backed the former prime minister amid the latter’s corruption allegations, crossing swords instead with Zahid over the question of candidacy in the previous general election when he was dropped at the last minute.

After GE14, he defended not only Najib but also Zahid’s leadership.

Razlan’s appointment may raise eyebrows, as the former Federal Territories Umno Youth chief had openly questioned Najib and Zahid’s leadership following the last general election.

Nevertheless, Razlan was often seen sharing the same stage during programmes organised by pro-Najib groups.

It is believed that the fresh appointments were made to replace three of Zahid's previous supreme council appointees - Hajiji Nor, Azizah Mohd Dun and Anifah Aman.

The trio had left Umno in December.

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