Paya Besar parliamentarian Mohd Shahar Abdullah has announced his appointment as the new Umno Youth Information chief.

In a statement thanking party leadership, especially new Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Shahar stated that his appointment reflected the changes taking place within the party, which took in heavy losses during the 14th general election recently.

The party has since also suffered a number of defections by leaders who have claimed to have lost faith in Umno as it has strayed from its original struggles.

"Even though the recent Umno elections did not side with me, I never held any grudges or feelings of disappointment towards the party as the family spirit that is thick within Umno supersedes all positions and ranks contested.

"This appointment (as Umno Youth information chief), to me, is a manifestation of the message that Umno is making changes from within so as to realise the wishes of the rakyat for the party to shift towards a more dynamic path," Shahar said in a statement sent last night.

Shahar, who had lost to Asyraf for the top Youth post, also pledged to assist Asyraf in strengthening the party Youth wing so that it may serve as the backbone to Umno.