KUALA LUMPUR: Federal Territories Umno wants party vice president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani to be given a ministerial position in the Cabinet as recognition of his capability and performance during the 15th General Election (GE15) in November last year.

Federal Territories delegate Gulam Muszaffar Gulam Mustakim said Johari, who is also the Titiwangsa member of parliament, is the "last man standing" from the party in the Klang Valley and Selangor.

Gulam made the proposal when he relayed wishes of the Federal Territories Umno for the unity government to reinstate the Federal Territories (FT) Ministry.

"Let's not forget that in FT we have an Umno vice-president, a leader whom I considered as the last man standing in the Klang Valley; Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

"He was the only Umno MP that won in the last general election and should be given a role and spot in the government and Umno's political position in FT," said Ghulam during a debate on the party president's policy speech.

On the call to reinstate the FT Ministry, Ghulam, who is also Batu Umno division chief, said since the ministry was demoted to just the FT department, it has failed to bring a new direction in the past seven months due to limited powers and allocations.

"Coupled with the busy schedule of PMX (10th Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), who is also the finance minister and de facto minister of FT, he is unable to focus on problems, issues and policies for the federal territories," he said.

He added that many policies and issues cannot be addressed and implemented such as housing, petty traders and hawkers, the high cost of living and increasing traffic.

"To be honest, we do feel like we are not together in the unity government, compared to other states such as Perak, Pahang and Melaka.

"Not only the position of the minister was abolished, but the senator position for Labuan was also given to those who were not supposed to be.

"The same goes with important positions such as the FT Residents Representative Council members at every parliamentary constituency, which was led by Pakatan Harapan (PH) MPs, were not discussed and no quotas were given to Umno," he said. - Reporting by Adib Povera, Hana Naz Harun, Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi, Qistina Sallehuddin

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/06/918554/federal-territories-umno-wants-johari-ghani-be-given-position-cabinet