I don't want to contest for VP to not split votes for Johor, says Ahmad Maslan

PETALING JAYA: Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan will not be stepping up to contest any of the Umno vice-president posts.

The Deputy Finance Minister and Pontian MP said that instead, he has decided to only contest for the supreme council and Pontian Umno division chief posts.

Ahmad said this while speaking to the media at the general assembly of the Pontian Car Rental Drivers' Association general assembly in Pontian on Feb 25, a day before the nomination closing date.

"In terms of being qualified for the vice-president post, I have been long enough in Umno and have held the Umno information chief post as well as visited the 191 divisions all over the country," he told Sinar Harian.

"Yet again, I do not have to be another candidate for the VP post in Johor. Too many candidates from one state will split the votes (of Johor).

"Other states have so far sent only one candidate for the VP post," said Ahmad, reported Sinar Harian on Feb 26.

As of closing day, eight names have filed their applications to contest for the three VP posts.

Currently the contenders for the VP posts range from ministers to former ministers and state chief ministers.

In the list are incumbents Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, as well as Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad and Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

Umno is in the midst of its internal elections for the 191 divisions and 22,000 branches, including the divisions that were suspended.

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.