KJ to run for Umno presidency too

File pic of Khairy

PETALING JAYA: Khairy Jamaluddin is expected to officially announce he is contesting the Umno presidency.

Sources said the Umno Youth chief is in the process of submitting his nomination papers for the party polls on June 30. Today (June 17) is the last day for submissions.

Khairy will go up against Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. 

The Rembau MP had earlier indicated that he would be contesting the Umno vice-president’s post. 

Dr Ahmad Zahid, the party vice-president now handling the duties of the president following Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s resignation last month, was the first to announce his candidacy for the No. 1 post.

Tengku Razaleigh, who is Gua Musang MP, confirmed his candidacy during a press conference at his home in Jalan Langgak Golf in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (June 16).

The 81-year-old Razaleigh’s influence in the party will be put to the test again, after having famously challenged for the top post in 1987 only to be edged out by a mere 43 votes.  

As for Dr Ahmad Zahid, it will be his first attempt for the presidency.

Another challenger so far is relatively unknown – businessman and blogger Rahmat Azim Abdul Aziz.  

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said that Khairy was the best candidate for the post as Umno was now deemed as a party in disarray and directionless in its struggle.