Umno Youth chief candidate accepts defeat graciously

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth chief candidate Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has accepted his defeat graciously.

“In any election, there has to be a winner and losers. This is just another experience for me as I have lost before in my bid for a position, in Kubang Pasu in 2004,” he told reporters as he left the hall after the announcement of the results.

Mukhriz said he was still a party man and would still play a role in the party in some small way.

Mukhriz was pulled up to the stage by newly-elected Umno chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy jumped over a table on the stage to reach out to Mukhriz and immediately gave him a hug when he went on stage.

Outside, however, Mukhriz supporters did not share his humility, and screamed and jeered at Khairy’s victory.

Umno Batu Sapi Youth chief Firdause Akbarkhan said Mukhriz’s loss showed the election results did not reflect the grassroots sentiment.

Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, who was the other contender who lost, was not in the hall.

Meanwhile, newly-elected deputy Youth chief Datuk Razali Ibrahim said his loyalty would be with the leadership of the movement.

“We can work together for the good of the party,” said the Muar MP, who is said not to be aligned to any of the candidates for the top post.