Umno should have replaced info chief sooner, says Utusan

New Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa must learn to avoid the gaffes which made his predecessor an object of ridicule online. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, January 31, 2016.

Ummo should have replaced its information chief sooner, Utusan Malaysia said today, two days after Tan Sri Annuar Musa took over the position from Datuk Ahmad Maslan.

The Umno-owned newspaper’s editors, writing under the pseudonym Awang Selamat in the weekend edition of the paper, Mingguan Malaysia, said the post of information chief required smarts and a holistic approach.

Awang Selamat congratulated Annuar, saying the Ketereh MP’s experience, maturity and sharpness would be of help to Umno in facing the next general election.

“The challenges facing him are huge and complex. The task of explaining and countering the extremists require wisdom and a comprehensive approach.

“More importantly, the information chief cannot be seen as a liability.

“The past lessons are there, learn from them,” said Awang Selamat, in an apparent reference to Ahmad, whose constant gaffes earned him notoriety in social media.

Ahmad, the party’s information chief since 2009, will now head Umno’s IT bureau.

Awang said the deputy international trade and industry minister would have much to contribute to his bureau.

Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the changes to the party’s line-up on Friday, after chairing a meeting of the Supreme Council.

Awang said speculation over the changes in posts had been rife since 2009, and were necessary to revitalise the party and win new confidence.

- TMI