Ahmad Zahid thanks BN Chairman

The Deputy Prime Minister, who is now carrying out the duties of UMNO Deputy President also thanked the MCA and MIC whose proposal that he be appointed to the post, received unanimous agreement.

"I see this as a responsibility given by the prime minister to ensure the empowerment and stability of the overall BN election machinery," he told Malaysian journalists here on Friday.

Najib announced the appointment, effective immediately, after chairing the BN Supreme Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

Ahmad Zahid said UMNO must be open to the principle of sharing, a strategy where no party machinery would allow any component party to struggle alone.

He said without sidelining the conventional media, including the print and electronic media, BN must use the new media to get close and win the hearts of new voters and the mid-ground voters who were the determining factors during the general election.