Ahmad Maslan confirms appointment as BN sec-gen but insists Annuar Musa wasn’t sacked

(Bernama) – Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan today confirmed that he has replaced Tan Sri Annuar Musa as Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general.

Ahmad, who is also Umno secretary-general, said the appointment, which takes immediate effect, does not mean that Annuar has been sacked, but merely replaced.

“He (Annuar) was not sacked but replaced. By convention, the Umno secretary-general is also the BN-secretary-general and I think this was among the reasons why (for the change). I have also been tasked with the post of Muafakat Nasional secretary-general.

“I want to stress that it is just a replacement. The president had earlier mentioned the same, and the words he used were ‘I am replacing him (Annuar),” Ahmad told reporters after Umno president Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi’s special meeting with party division leaders at the World Trade Centre today.

Ahmad, however, declined comment when asked if he was reassigned due to claims that Annuar no longer respected the party president and seemed to be leaning towards Bersatu.