UMNO president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today announced the appointment of Tan Sri Annuar Musa as the new UMNO Information Chief, replacing Datuk Ahmad Maslan.

Ahmad, who is Pontian member of parliament will hold a new portfolio as the party's Information Technology Bureau chairman.

Najib, who is also the Prime Minister, also announced that Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (Baling MP) had been appointed the chairman of UMNO's Electoral Roll and Membership Bureau, and Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani (Titiwangsa MP) as chairman of its Economic Bureau.

Speaking at a press conference after chairing the UMNO Supreme Council meeting at Menara Dato Onn in Putra World Trade here today, Najib also announced that Kepala Batas MP, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican was appointed chairman of the UMNO Overseas Students Bureau.

He also said that Datuk Mohd Razali Ibrahim (Muar MP) would head UMNO's Private Institutes of Higher Learning Bureau while Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (Lenggong MP) had been made chairman of the Welfare Bureau.

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Bernama reported that the Supreme Council also discussed other matters such as the date for the UMNO branch and division annual delegates meetings for this year, as well as the 70th UMNO anniversary celebrations on May 11.

"We decided that the annual delegates meetings for the branches will be from March 18 until May 1, (while) the division delegates meetings from Aug 1 until Sept 15.

"We also discussed the 70th UMNO anniversary celebrations...we will provide further details of the celebrations as the original proposed venue, the Bukit Jalil National Stadium cannot be used as it is being refurbished," he said.

He said the programmes for the celebration include a flag run and sports carnival which will be handled by UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who is also the Youth and Sports Minister.

Meanwhile, Annuar told reporters that he was thankful to the president for giving him the trust to handle a big responsibility in UMNO.

"I realise that this post bears a heavy responsibility...I need the cooperation of all parties in UMNO whether chairmen of liaison committees, wings or party members," he said.