‘We will not back anyone for party polls’

Grassroots will decide on posts, says Johor Umno deputy chief

JOHOR BARU: Johor Umno will not endorse any candidate contesting the party elections, says state deputy chairman Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.

The party grassroots, he added, will decide who they want as supreme council members, including the president and deputy president.

“If there are those who claim that Johor Umno is inclined to support Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, this is their personal view and this is not the stance of Johor Umno,” he said in a statement yesterday.

“There should be no camps in Umno in this year’s party elections in view of the political land- scape in the country after the 14th General Election.

“The current political scenario has changed.”

There are reports that Johor Umno liaison chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin will be contesting the party’s vice-president post in the elections on June 30.

The former mentri besar said he is contesting to ensure Umno regains support from the Malays and the people.

Umno vice-president and Johor politician Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has said he will not contest any post but will work on revitalising Umno starting with Johor.

There should be no camps in Umno in this year’s party elections. Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad