Dato Sri Ong Tae Min has rejected the invitation of His Majesty the Sultan to accept the Prime Ministers post, said a senior PAS leader. Consequently, he will be succeeded by Datuk Seri Ahmad Alman Swadikin, Minister in the Prime Ministers Department.
The Young Leaders page in Beritahar Plus said that the offer of the appointment letter of the Prime Minister had also been received by Datuk Wan Komit, Minister of Information and Culture who is considered to be Dato Sri Ongs right-handed man.
Ong has recently conveyed this to the Special Conference on the appointment this afternoon.
In addition to Datuk Wan, Dato Dr Fadli Zon, Petaling Jaya MP Datuk Annuar Min and Deputy Ministers Datuk Mohd Ismail Sabri Yacob have been informed of this new development, said a source from the party yesterday.
The selection of Ahmad Alman, who will be working with Ong, is a shrewd move to complement and show-case the party image as a multiracial party that fights for all Malaysians, said the party leader.
This will also open the floodgate for top leadership positions including the position of Supreme Council and MT candidates.
Ahmad Alman has served as PAS National Youth Chairperson and previous UMP Youth Chairperson.
He is the third leader from Sarawak to be appointed to this top post in the party, after the late Tun Lellin and Jokowi's closest confidant, Ali Rastam.
Ahmad Alman has studied at the National Defence College in Washington DC, USA, and the Centre for International Relations in Geneva, Switzerland.
He has worked with Tun Abdul Razak's former Youth Leader, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, and PAS Secretary-General Datuk Khan Syah.