Will the best man win in crowded Umno polls?
(top left) Johari Ghani, Khaled Nordin, Azalina Othman Said. (Top left/bottom) Shahrizat Jalil, Noraini Ahmad, Akmal Salleh
SHAH ALAM - Umno may be at its weakest but the excitement for party polls has began.
For many, the election will be keenly observed following the sacking and suspension of 44 members including former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, former vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and former Selangor chief Tan Sri Noh Omar.
Nominations closed on Feb 27 and eventhough the two top post will not be contested but it is not short of speculations as seven Umno leaders fight for the party vice president post.
The three most prominent are Datuk Johari Ghani and incumbents Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin and Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.
Others who have thrown in their hat in the ring are Law and Institutional Reform minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Wan Rosdy Ismail and former Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad.
Veteran and former housing and local government minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican has also submitted his name for the vice-president seat.
It took many by surprise when incumbent vice-president and former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that he will stay away from the contest but he is defending his Bera division seat.
Khalid is known to be the president's man while Johari is seen as capable of cracking the whip when necessary.
The Wanita Umno chief post is the only top position with a straight fight with former Wanita chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil hoping to reclaim the seat from incumbent Datuk Noraini Ahmad.
There is a four-cornered fight for the Umno Youth chief seat to replace Datuk Seri Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. The four are Meor Hassan Ali, Arman Azha Hanifah, Akmal Salleh and Syed Rosli Syed Harman.
Delegates will need to choose the best from the six contestants at eyeing the Puteri Umno chief post. They are Khaidirah Abu Zahar, Puteri Umno deputy chief Nurul Amal Fauzi, Puteri Umno exco member Fadhwa Anuar and Wan Noor Akyilah Wan Shapuddin (Pandan Puteri Umno chief).
The Umno polls has also drawn 74 contestants for just 25 supreme council posts.
The elections for the party wings – Wanita, Youth, and Puteri – will be held simultaneously on March 11 while elections for the Umno divisions and its supreme council will be held simultaneously on March 18.
