MUAR: The appointment of Muar MP Datuk Razali Ibrahim as a Deputy Youth and Sports Minister has helped break the political divide between Umno and PAS members here.

Scores of villagers, who are members of both parties, attended a thanksgiving dinner at Razali’s house in Kampung Seri Menanti on Friday night.

Leading the way for PAS was Maharani assemblyman Dr Mohamad Taslim, who was greeted by Razali and other Umno division leaders.

Razali, accompanied by his division chief Datuk Mohd Ismail Mohd Shah and district Barisan Nasional leaders, later entertained Dr Mohamad and his group at the dinner.

He said he felt honoured that Dr Mohamad and his fellow PAS leaders had attended the dinner hosted by the local Umno division.

Razali said he had invited everyone, including PAS members, and personal invitations were sent to the party’s leaders, including Dr Mohamad.

Dr Mohamad said he hoped Razali would bring development to the division and serve youths of other parties as well.

Earlier in his speech, Razali pledged to work hard to bring greater development to Muar and outline new developments for the people.

“We will ask them what they want and do our best to provide them their needs, not give them things they do not want.

“This covers the development of youth and sport, and we will have regular dialogues with the people to find out their needs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ismail said the local Umno division was blessed with Razali as its Youth wing leader who was now Deputy Youth and Sports Minister.

He thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for the appointment.

He said it was the first time an Umno leader from the division had been appointed to a deputy minister post and urged Razali to give his best in serving the people.

“We will give our fullest cooperation to Razali in his efforts to bring development to the area,” he added.

Source: Starmetro