Seven gunning for Umno presidency
So far, the highest number of contenders to ever compete for the post
KUALA LUMPUR: Speculation is abound over the identities of the three people who have thrown in their lot in a seven-man battle for the Umno presidency, the toughest fight yet in the party’s history.
Among those said to be joining the ranks of a Kelantanese prince, a grassroots hero, a youth icon and a businessman-cum-blogger are Bangi Umno member Rosile Saat, Bandar Tun Razak’s committee member Mohamed Iqbal Maricair and Iskandar Puteri member Mohd Yusof Musa @ Jamaludin.
However, with Umno executive secretary Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh saying that the party constitution only allows those who have held positions in the supreme council or at their divisions for at least one term to contest for the presidency, it is likely that three of the names will be dropped.
The list of qualified candidates will be finalised today after a stringent vetting process within the party and the Insolvency Department.
Those confirmed to be in the race are Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Khairy Jamaluddin and Rahmat Azim Abdul Aziz.
Yesterday, Ab Rauf confirmed the names of Dr Ahmad Zahid, Razaleigh and Khairy as among the seven for the presidency but refused to reveal the remaining four names.
In fact, he was puzzled when asked if Rahmat had submitted his form, appearing unable to recognise the name.
Despite being pressed by reporters, Ab Rauf stood his ground and said all announcements would be done by the party’s secretarygeneral Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today.
“It will be premature for me to reveal the names now,” he said.
Asked on the nomination of Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos, who is on the run from the police, for Umno Youth leader’s post, Ab Rauf
said the Sungai Besar chief had not been charged.
This is the third time that the Umno presidency has been challenged but it is the first time that it has seen the highest number of contenders.
In 1978, Umno member Sulaiman Ahmad (or known as Sulaiman Palestine) challenged then Umno president Tun Hussein Onn, but was defeated.
In 1987, Razaleigh lost to then Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad by 43 votes and the resulting dispute led to the courts declaring Umno illegal.
That forced Dr Mahathir to set up Umno Baru while Razaleigh formed Semangat 46.
A total of 612 nomination papers were filed for all positions, with the vice-president’s post receiving nine nominations while the deputy president had three.
The Youth chief ’s post received nine nominations while the Wanita and Puteri chiefs had four each.
For the deputy president’s post, those who have filed their papers are Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Pekan Umno’s Mohd Afnalizam Mohd Salim.
For the vice-president’s posts, they are Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, Damansara Umno’s Mohd Shukry Roslan and Gua Musang Umno committee member Sheikh Razali Sheikh Hamad.
For the Umno Youth chief ’s post, besides Jamal, the others include Mohamad Shahar Abdullah, Khairul Azwan Harun, Syed Rosli Syed Harman Jamalullail, Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Mohd Noor Izzat and Noor Azleen Ambros.
Current Wanita chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil will not be defending her post, opening the contest to four people, including Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun, former Wanita chief Tan Sri Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman and ex-Puteri chief Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad.
For the post of Puteri chief, four people have submitted their names, including current deputy Zahida Zarik Khan.