Mahdzir to defend Umno veep post in party polls

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid will be defending his post at the party polls.

“I am pleased to announce that I will be contesting to defend the Umno vice-presidency for a second term.

“Umno is currently in a challenging situation and I have taken the decision to continue the fight,” he told a press conference at the Seri Pacific Hotel here on Thursday (Feb 23).

Mahdzir, who was elected to the post in the 2018 party polls, said Umno was currently in a tight spot noting its defeats at the 2018 and 2022 general elections.

“With my experience in both federal and state politics and management, I hope to revive the spirit of this party and will do my best for the party, religion, race and country,” he said.

Other than Mahdzir, party vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has also confirmed that he will defend his post, leaving only former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob remaining tight-lipped.

The party’s new office bearers will be elected from Feb 1 to March 18, but the top two positions of president and deputy president will not be contested this time around.

In May last year, Umno amended its constitution to allow party polls to be held within six months after the conclusion of the 15th General Election.

Umno had postponed its party elections for 18 months after the 2018/2021 term ended on June 30, 2021, which meant party polls for the 2021/2023 term should have been held before Dec 30 last year. However, the polls were postponed.