PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali has now decided not to take up a position in the Umno supreme council, saying there is too much negativity surrounding his appointment.

"After much deep thought, I feel it is unreasonable for me to accept the appointment as an Umno supreme council member.

"In my mind, my appointment will be surrounded by the negativity that may be linked to actions and decisions made during my tenure as a judge and the attorney general," he said in a brief statement on Saturday (July 14) night.

Mohamed Apandi was among 11 people appointed by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to the party's supreme council on Saturday (July 14).

Kedah Umno Youth chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy criticised the new party supreme council lineup, particularly the appointment of Mohamed Apandi, saying that it was a "political mistake" and will only drag the party further down into the mire.

He called Mohamed Apandi's appointment a "desperate move" and showed Umno's inability to cultivate internal talent and compete with the ruling Pakatan Harapan government.