JERTIH: Former higher education minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh has rejected a suggestion that he return as Umno Terengganu liaison committee chairman.
The Besut member of parliament said he was not interested in leading the party at state level anymore, having done so for eight years beginning 2000.
He said Umno needed a younger and more qualified person as its leader in Terengganu, one who was well-liked by all, to bring it success.
“I am ready and willing to help the state Umno leadership, but only in an advisory capacity,” he said after attending the Seberang Jertih Umno branch annual general meeting.
At the AGM, Idris was once again elected branch chief, at once putting to bed rumours that he did not want to have any leadership roles anymore.
Idris was much celebrated when he led the state Barisan Nasional line-up to take back Terengganu from PAS in the 2004 general election, after which he was appointed menteri besar.
The issue of him being made Umno’s state liaison committee chairman is being much talked about currently due to his experience and expertise in putting together political strategies as a member of the opposition.
Also in the mix is Hulu Terengganu MP Datuk Rosol Abdul Wahid, who is touted as Idris’s possible deputy.
Idris, who is an Umno Supreme Council member, said this was the right time to identify which members were loyal and which were “wolves in sheep’s clothing” following the dismal BN showing in the 14th general election.
He said Umno needed to “clean house” to ensure that its fight in this “new era” could be continued with a higher spirit than before.
Idris said he was confident that Umno was still accepted by the people and will come back stronger after the AGMs at branch, division and national level.
“What I see now is that the branch AGMs are going smoothly... in fact, the members are high spirited in attending the AGMs, even though they are still in shock over the loss (in GE14),” he said.