Anifah rejects offer to head Umno MPs club

Kimanis member of parliament Anifah Aman today rejected an offer to be the chairperson of the newly revived Umno Parliamentarian Club in the Dewan Rakyat.
He had previously declined to take up an appointment as a deputy minister after the March 8 general election as he was hoping for a more senior post.
Coming at the heels of wide speculation that he is being enticed by the Pakatan Rakyat to defect, his decision will surely be seen as yet another blow to Prime Minister and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
It was only two days ago when the Umno MPs in a meeting with the prime minister decided to revive the club. Anifah's name was proposed to head the club, a move largely seen by many as an attempt to placate the Sabah MP.
Speaking to Bernama today, Anifah said he was rejecting the post as he wanted to focus on being the chairperson of the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) backbenchers.
"I want to be chairperson of the Sabah BN backbenchers. I cannot deny that it is an honour to be chairperson of the Umno Parliamentarians Club.
"I must thank the leadership for nominating me. However, as of now, I want to voice something that is more relevant for Sabah.
"That's why I want to continue as Sabah BN backbenchers chairman in the Dewan Rakyat," he said.
Disappointed not picked as full minister
Anifah said he will be conveying his decision to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz next Monday.
Previously Anifah sprang a surprise when he turned down his appointment as deputy transport minister in the new cabinet line-up announced by Abdullah after the general election.
Anifah, the younger brother of Sabah chief minister Musa Aman, was first elected as the member of parliament for Beaufort in the 1999 general election.
He was re-elected in the 2004 election, in the Kimanis constituency, and retained the seat in a four-cornered fight this year.
Anifah, who has previously served as deputy minister of plantation industries and commodities, was disappointed that he was not made a full minister.

tunku : good decision by anifah.he should decline anything pak lah offers him unless it's a minister post.pak lah should ask mat taib to resign and give the rural development post to anifah aman.mat taib is a liability to umno,a thorn in the flesh which will worsen umno/bn chances of winning back selangor.sabah should get another ministerial post and the best would be rural development ministry and this will make sabahan be more grateful to the ruling government.