My post not due to my dad's influence: Mukhriz

"In fact, I have nothing to do with Mahathir ... because he just change his name to Mahathir Nainah Khan, now a citizen of India Bharat."

~~~

'What is more important is that the people are happy with the changes occurring within Umno,' he says. Mukhriz Mahathir said the claim by opposition leaders that his appointment as deputy chairperson of the Kedah Umno liaison body was due to the influence of his father was because they had no other issues and could not accept the changes occurring in Umno. He said that his appointment was not the real issue, but the opposition leaders liked to touch on personal issues instead of the contributions that could be made by Umno leaders to the party. "I need not worry about their comments because what is more important is that the people are happy with the changes occurring within Umno," Mukhriz told Bernama when asked to comment on the statement by an exco member of the Kedah PAS-led government, Abdul Ghani Ahmad yesterday, that described his appointment as being due to the fact that he is the son of a former prime minister. Abdul Ghani said Mukhriz was respected like Dr Mahathir Mohamad but was convinced that the situation would not last long when the young generation would forget him, while PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar described Mukhriz as being 'raw'. The announcement on the appointment of the deputy minister of international trade and industry and the new chairperson of Kedah Umno, Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah effective Jan 1, was made by Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor on Monday. Earlier, Mukhriz, who is the MP for Jerlun, presented personal educational aid vouchers to about 1,500 Year One pupils from schools in his constituency at the Dewan Kodiang. "It is an honour for me to be linked to my father. At least they (the opposition) recognise the good work that my father had put in for 22 years as the prime minister," he said. On his plans as the new deputy chairperson, Mukhriz said he would focus on wooing the young generation and the fence-sitters so that they would return and support Umno and the BN. "The formula is simple... we do our work well and they will recognise it. The task is to resolve the people's problems one by one and strive to improve their standard of living. "If this is achieved, it is hoped that they will support us in the coming 13th general election," he said, adding that he would focus on the grassroots. - Bernama