Ibrahim Yahya has stepped down as Utusan Melayu Bhd group editor and executive director, just over a week after assuming the role on Dec 8.

Better known among his peers as "Tiger", Ibrahim was the press secretary to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi between Aug 2015 and May 2018.

Zahid had gone on leave and handed over his party duties to his deputy Mohamad Hasan on Tuesday.

Ibrahim was brought in to replace Abdul Aziz Ishak who quit in July. Ibrahim previously served as the Communications and Multimedia Ministry director-general, the media advisor for the same ministry and also CEO of Bernama TV. He was director-general of RTM from 2009 to 2011.

Utusan Melayu Bhd, which owns a stable of newspapers and magazines, has been struggling to stay solvent after the May 9 elections.

The Umno-owned newspaper sold off its land, offered VSS to its staff, shut down all bureaus and brought in private investors to help the company deal with its debts.

Meanwhile Bernama reports that Utusan Melayu had, in a statement to Bursa Malaysia, said that Ibrahim resigned from the post as he was tied down with personal commitments.

When contacted by Bernama to confirm the matter, Ibrahim said briefly, "Not from me (the confirmation). I abide by the Bursa regulation. It (Utusan Melayu) is a public-listed company".

Utusan Melayu on Dec 13 announced the change in Ibrahim Yahya's post from Independent Director to Executive Director.

The previous close on its share price was RM0.09, down from a 52-week high of RM0.70.