[UPDATED] I wasn’t told anything, Mahdzir says of purported appointment as energy minister

KUALA LUMPUR – Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid today denied receiving any information on him being appointed energy and natural resources minister.

“I have not received any information about this news that has been circulating since yesterday,” he tweeted, as reported by Bernama.

Attached with the post is an article on the purported appointment.

The article, published by a local portal, said the Padang Terap MP has been made minister, replacing Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, who resigned yesterday.

Fellow Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, meanwhile, has become the latest party member reported to be quitting a key position.

The former Johor menteri besar reportedly said he will resign as chairman of Boustead Holdings Bhd, a government-linked company in which the Armed Forces Fund Board is the majority shareholder.

Boustead has total assets of over RM18.8 billion and more than 17,000 employees.

It is believed that Khaled’s decision to resign is due to the fact that Umno yesterday decided to withdraw its support for the ruling Perikatan Nasional.

“I will resign tomorrow, and tomorrow itself, I will send in my resignation letter,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.

This is the second reported resignation by a high-profile Umno personality since yesterday, when Lenggong MP Shamsul Anuar, in a brief statement, cited his loyalty to the party as a reason for leaving the cabinet.

The Umno Supreme Council said it is revoking support for the PN administration and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin effective immediately.

However, Muhyiddin today asserted that he still commands the majority in Parliament, and will face a vote of confidence on his leadership in the Dewan Rakyat next month. – The Vibes, August 4, 2021