'Warlords' threatened Umno members to support their choices, claims Khairy

PETALING JAYA: Khairy Jamaluddin (pic) claimed that majority of Umno delegates want change, but "warlords" had threatened them to support their choices.

On his Twitter page, the former Umno Youth chief said that he received 32,592 votes compared with Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's 39,197 in the Umno presidential polls on Saturday (June 30) .

"Popular vote statistics show that majority of Umno members want change. But the ballot system is in favour of warlords who have a strong grip on their divisions," tweeted Khairy on Sunday (July 1).

"Many were ordered, threatened, and forced to support the choices of the warlords," he claimed.

Statistik undi popular menunjukkan majoriti ahli UMNO mahukan perubahan. Cuma, sistem undi bahagian menyebelahi warlords yang mempunyai cengkaman kuat atas bahagian mereka. Ramai diarah, diugut, dipaksa untuk ikut pilihan warlords. — Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) July 1, 2018

Khairy shared a table that showed him winning 61 divisions in comparison to Dr Ahmad Zahid's 99, while Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah garnered the support of 30 divisions and 20,462 votes.

"Thank you all who supported me. Although I accept this decision with an open heart, I wanted Umno to change," tweeted Khairy.

"The majority of members want change, but the warlords are still deaf to the voice of the people," he said.

Dr Ahmad Zahid, who was previously the vice-president carrying out the duties of party president, was elected Umno president.

Former Negri Sembilan mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan was elected Umno deputy president, while former ministers Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid were elected vice-presidents.