NEW CHIEFS FOR UMNO'S THREE WINGS
DATUK Noraini Ahmad, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and Datuk Zahida Zarik Khan are elected to helm the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings, respectively. They are raring to take steps to reinvigorate the party. UMNO POLLS' OPEN FORMAT IS 'MOTHER OF ALL DEMOCRA
UMNO yesterday unveiled its new Wanita, Youth and Puteri chiefs for the 2018-2021 term following its nationwide party election.
Parit Sulong member of parliament Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad was elected Wanita chief, former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki is the new Youth chief, while Datuk Zahida Zarik Khan is the new Puteri chief.
Asyraf, 42, defeated three contenders — Mohd Shahar Abdullah, Senator Khairul Azwan Harun and Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos.
For the Wanita post, Noraini, 50, beat Wanita vice-chief Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun, 63, and onetime Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman, 69.
Zahida, 39, who is former Puteri Umno vice-chief, defeated Nor Hazreena Mohamad Hashim, who was a Puteri executive council member.
As for the deputies posts, the Umno Youth number two position was won by Kuala Langat Umno Youth chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan, 32, who swept aside challenges from Zahrudin Yahya, Shariquq Adam Das, Razali Tushan, Abdul Halim Sidek Ghulam Hassan, Ridzuan Hashim Baki, Safhwan Matusin and Fariz Hadi.
Penang Umno’s Datuk Norliza Rahim, meanwhile, beat Datuk Rosni Zahari, Endang Kusma Mohamed and Masdiana Salleh for the Wanita Umno deputy chief post.
The Puteri Umno vice-chief post was won by Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi.
The posts of Wanita permanent chairman, Youth permanent chairman and Puteri permanent chairman went to Sharifah Aminah, Mohd Hafiz Che Mat and Norain Abd Rahman, respectively.
The announcements were made by Umno executive secretary Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh at Menara Dato Onn here yesterday.
The announcement was initially expected to be made at 5pm. However, a lengthy delay saw the press conference being held only four hours later.
Rauf said the delay was due to the divisions’ failure to send the results on time.
“They keyed in the results a bit late, so the headquarters had to finalise the results,” he said.
The outcome of the race for the various posts in Umno is determined by who garners the support of most Umno divisions.
There are 191 Umno divisions nationwide.
Acting Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had earlier paid tribute to the open format of the elections for party divisions and its three wings nationwide, saying it was a testament to the party practising the “mother of all democracies”.
Meanwhile, Noraini thanked former Wanita Umno head Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for making way for the new leaders.
She said her first move was to reduce the gap among Wanita members.
She also paid tribute to Shahrizat, saying that Wanita owed its strength to Shahrizat’s legacy.
“Thanks to her, Wanita is strong and we will continue the legacy to make an impact.”
She said Wanita planned to restore the people’s faith in Barisan Nasional through a variety of programmes that will be implemented.
Meanwhile, Asyraf said he planned to implement five agendas to reinvigorate Umno Youth.
The first, he said, was to recruit the right talent.
“We need to build the right talent, build more leaders. We don’t just want one KJ (Khairy Jamaluddin), we want 10 and even 100 leaders.
“The second is training. We need precise training programmes that cater for Umno so that the youths understand our party’s aspirations and history and will not waver from the party’s goals,” he said.
The third and fourth agendas, he said, were building a culture of knowledge as well as going back to basics to strengthen its members spirituality.
“The final agenda is identity. Without a strong identity, we will be swallowed up by time.”
He said Umno needed introspection to identify where it went wrong; only then would it be able to change and regain the people’s respect again.
Since Saturday morning, delegates from 191 Umno divisions began voting for their new wing leaders. The most anticipated decision involving the party president, deputy president, chairman, deputy chairman and supreme council members would be made on June 30.
Those contesting the Umno presidency are Gua Musang member of parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah; outgoing Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin; party vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi; Bandar Tun Razak committee member Mohamed Iqbal Maricair; and Iskandar Puteri member Mohd Yusof Musa @ Jamaluddin.
As for the deputy president post, former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan is facing Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
Umno is in the midst of choosing its new leadership after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak stepped down as party president and Barisan Nasional chairman following the devastating loss suffered by the coalition in the recent May 9 general election.
In a Twitter posting, Datuk Seri Najib Razak congratulated the new wings’ chiefs.
“Congratulations to the Umno wings and all those who had been elected to the posts.
“Hopefully, they will carry out their responsibilities well.”