Edge for Ku Li? > Candidates from Umno stalwart’s camp win Youth, Puteri and Wanita top posts
KUALA LUMPUR: Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is standing for the Umno president post in the party elections, seems to be making headway in the race, with candidates from his camp emerging winners in polls for the party’s Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings.
While congratulating the elected wing leaders yesterday, he said the new lineup is capable of bringing new breath to the 72-year-old party.
Although their names had yet to be officially announced, Tengku Razaleigh, popularly known as Ku Li, said he was happy that all the candidates he supported won in the contest.
“Those who won were the candidates that we supported. God willing, this will give new breath to the party,” he told reporters at an event organised by Pahang Umno.
Initial results announced on Umno polls Twitter feed showed that supreme council member Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki was named Youth chief, defeating seven others that included former Youth vice-chief Azwan Harun and fugitive Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos.
According to another tweet, the Puteri wing post was won by its incumbent vicechief Datuk Zahida Zarik Khan, 39.
Meanwhile, acting president Datuk Seri
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi posted on his Facebook page at about 6.15pm, congratulating Asyraf, Zahida and newly-elected Wanita chief Datuk Noraini Ahmad.
“Congratulations to all the wing leaders who won in the polls on Saturday. The open contest at all levels has enabled all Umno members to contest for all the positions.”
Describing this party polls as the “mother of all democracy” in Umno’s history since 1988, Ahmad Zahid said this shows that Umno is open, democratic and inclusive, where more than 165,000 delegates had cast their votes.
“This is the renewal in Umno now. This is the first step towards change so that the party will remain relevant on the nation’s political stage,” he said.
The vice-chief positions for Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings were won by Datuk Norliza Abdul Rahim, Shahril Suffian Hamdan and Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi respectively.
In the race for Umno presidency, Ku Li will be up against Ahmad Zahid, former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, Bandar Tun Razak committee member Mohamed Iqbal Maricair and Iskandar Puteri member Mohd Yusof Musa Jamaluddin. The party president polls will be held on June 30.
As of 7.15pm, Umno election secretariat tweeted that it was unable to announce the results as the votes from 25 divisions cannot be confirmed because complaints had been made by the respective division members.
The deputy president’s post will see a straight fight between Rembau division chief Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
Seven candidates will compete for the three vice-presidential posts.