Umno party polls: Najib, Muhyiddin retain posts uncontested

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have retained their posts as Umno president and deputy president uncontested as nominations for party polls closed at 5pm Saturday.

The three vice-president posts, however, will see a heated contest as six people have filed their nomination papers.

The official results of the nomination of various party positions will only be released on Tuesday, after a 72-hour cooling off period.

Incumbent vice-presidents Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, who are seeking re-election, will be challenged by Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Ali Rustam and former Negri Sembilan mentri besar Tan Sri Isa Samad.

Incumbent Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin is set to face four contenders -Pandan division Syed Rosli Syed Harman Jamalluail, former Merbok Youth chief Karim Ali Bukit Setiawangsa Umno deputy Youth chief Irwan Ambak, Bendang Baru Youth chief Akramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi, who is also the son of former Kedah mentri besar Tan Sri Sanusi Janid. 

In a surprise move, former deputy minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan filed her nomination papers to contest the Umno Wanita chief position, prompting a three-corner battle.

Maznah, who is also Muadzam Shah Umno assemblywoman, submitted her nomination papers at 4.30pm Saturday, half an hour before the nomination centre closed its doors at 5pm.

It is believed that Maznah has received backing from the Umno division aligned to former Wanita chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz who is at odds with incumbent Wanita chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

The other contender is a committee member from Kulim Bandar Baru Umno division, Raihan Suleiman Palestine.

Meanwhile, the Puteri top post will see a straight fight between Masjid Tanah member of Parliament Mas Ermieyati Samsudin and Petaling Jaya Selatan Umno Puteri chief Jamilah Hanim Othman.

As of 5pm, 64 nominations had been filed for the Supreme Council positions.