Umno voters decide against woman VP, but three in supreme council

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno members have chosen not to vote in a woman as a vice-president in party polls that saw Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail sailing to the top in the race for the three coveted spots.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, the sole woman candidate in the eight-cornered fight for the Umno vice-president race, got 72 votes, putting her in fourth place – not enough to break into the traditionally male-dominated position.

The unassuming and friendly Wan Rosdy, 64, was a clear favourite, taking the lead right from the start and securing 127 votes from the 187 divisions that held their meetings on Saturday.

His win, party sources said, was not a surprise as he was a popular figure among the grassroots.

“He also shares good relations with the division heads, most of whom are his contemporaries,” said one source.

The second spot for the vice-presidency went to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who got 116 votes.

He was the one candidate many had predicted would win because he was an incumbent as well as a minister.

Mohamed Khaled said Umno’s election process was meant to strengthen the party and not for individuals to show their power or influence.

“At the end of the day, we must not let the results divide us.

“We must quickly close ranks as there is so much work for us to do as an important political party,” he said.

The third vice-president seat went to Titiwangsa Umno chief and MP Datuk Seri Johari Ghani who secured 110 votes.

Only 187 of Umno’s 191 divisions held their meetings.

The Tanah Merah and Kota Kinabalu divisions have been suspended while those in Johor Baru and Beluran had their meetings postponed due to some issues.

Kepala Batas Umno chief Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who lost in the vice-president race, said the newly-elected vice-presidents would help Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi steer the party through challenging times.

“It is now time for the leadership to lift Umno to the heights expected by its members,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.

Reezal Merican said his defeat also spelt the end of his 10-year tenure as part of the party’s supreme council.

In the contest for the 25 elected seats in the supreme council, several incumbents returned, including Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, who got the highest number of votes at 178, and Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir with 175 votes.

Incumbents Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, Datuk Seri Sharkar Shamsudin and Datuk Seri Md Alwi Che Mat also retained their supreme council positions.

The polls saw Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz making his debut on the supreme council, having secured 167 votes.

The International Trade and Industry Minister is also a newly-minted Kota Raja Umno chief, having won the post uncontested.

This time around, only three women – former Papar MP Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin, Datuk Seri Shahaniza Shamsuddin and Datuk Zahida Zarik Khan – were voted into the supreme council compared to four previously.