JOHOR BARU: Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has been appointed as the state’s youth advisor and a member of the board of directors of the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) football club.
His new appointments were announced by Johor Crown Prince and JDT owner Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim via the football club’s Facebook page.
“Congratulations and welcome to JDT. JDT also congratulates Khairy on his appointment as Johor Youth advisor. Luaskan Kuasamu Johor,” said JDT in the post on Wednesday (Feb 15).
Meanwhile, state youth, sports, entrepreneur, cooperatives development and human resources committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said he hopes to work with Khairy to ensure that Johor’s youth development agendas are carried out more effectively.
“I believe Khairy’s past experience and abilities in the field will allow him to contribute new, dynamic ideas to benefit youths, as well as for the development of football in the state.
“His new appointments are timely as he also served as the Youth and Sports minister from 2013 to 2018,” said Mohd Hairi.
The former Rembau MP became a free agent after he was sacked from Umno on Jan 27.
On Jan 28, Tunku Ismail teased the idea of giving Khairy a role in JDT with a photo of him and the former Umno Youth chief in an Instagram story.
Later, in a tweet, Tunku Ismail posted the same photo of him and Khairy with the same caption.
“Experienced, proven, why not,” he said.
In response, Khairy wrote on his Facebook that he feels excited to join JDT, which is the biggest football club in South-East Asia.
“It is also a club that has done well every season.
“I will do my part in helping Tunku Mahkota Johor to realise his vision of making JDT the best football club in Asia,” he said, adding that he would repay the trust placed through his actions.
