Khairy Jamaluddin is looking for a successor for the Umno Youth chief post that he has been holding since 2008.

He has decided not to defend his post in the next party elections, which will be due next year, the youth and sports minister said.

“I have already said that this is going to be my last term,” Khairy said, referring to the speech he made at the 2013 Umno Youth general assembly.

Speaking at a press conference after launching the Youth division of the Malaysia Retail Chain Association at One City in Subang Jaya today, Khairy admitted that he is yet to find a successor to his post and is still looking out.

Asked whether there was any specific criteria he wanted in the person to replace him, the Rembau MP jokingly replied, “Obviously, somebody who is going to be better than me. We have to move forward, not regress.”

Ambitious people setting their sights

Khairy’s comments come amid speculation that various factions are being formed in Umno, with ambitious people setting their sights on ascending to higher echelons in both the party and government.

On another matter, Khairy said the budget revision recently announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak would not disturb his ministry.

“The expenditure of the Youth and Sports Ministry is not affected,” Khairy said.

Nevertheless, he explained that his ministry would be taking measures to minimise expenses in the sense of overseas trips, meetings and conferences.

Any agency under the ministry that wants to organise any programme would have to get his prior approval.

Najib announced a revised federal budget on Jan 20, after the alarming drops in global crude oil prices and the ringgit against the US dollar.