Johor crown prince appoints Khairy as state youth adviser

Former Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin has been appointed as the Johor youth adviser and to the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) football club’s board of directors.

The Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, said today that he had held a meeting with Khairy and agreed to appoint the former youth and sports minister to the two posts.

"His vast experience in various fields in the country will provide added value to the development of the youth and progress of football in Johor," Tunku Ismail said in a Facebook post.

On Jan 28, Tunku Ismail, who is also the owner of the football club, hinted at the possibility of offering the posts of JDT FC CEO and Johor youth adviser to Khairy.

Meanwhile, Khairy thanked Tunku Ismail for appointing him, adding in a Facebook post that he was thrilled to join JDT FC, the biggest club in Southeast Asia which he said had performed well every season.

"I will give whatever little experience I have to assist the TMJ in his vision to make JDT FC the top football club in Asia.

"In addition, I will help realise the TMJ’s desire to empower the youth of Bangsa Johor through education, training, entrepreneurship, welfare and providing the appropriate protection to teenagers and children," he said.

Khairy, who formerly held the health and science, technology and innovation portfolios, also said he would repay the trust placed in him and strive for the continued excellence of JDT FC and the empowerment of youth in Johor.

State youth, sports, entrepreneur development, cooperatives and human resources committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said Khairy’s appointment was appropriate, given his experience in servnig as the youth and sports minister from 2013 to 2018.

"I welcome Khairy’s appointment and hope to cooperate with him to ensure the success of the youth development agenda, especially in Johor, can be achieved more effectively.

"I also hope that Khairy, equipped with his experience and capability, can provide new and more dynamic ideas to the Johor youth as well as for the development of Johor football," he said.

He also called on the youth in Johor to continue giving their support to enable Khairy to carry out his duties and trust to the best of his abilities.