Azalina not ready for vice president post, say analysts
Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
UPM political science professor Datuk Prof Dr Jayum Anak Jawan said Azalina was not ready to take up the post as Umno members would reference Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz as the benchmark for women leaders in Umno.
"Azalina is way behind Rafidah in all aspects," Prof Dr Jayum told Sinar Daily, adding that Umno is in dire need to have leaders to propel its rejuvenation.
"It is not that Umno do not want a female vice presidents, but if the female candidate is comparable to and better than Rafidah, I am certain they will push her up," he explained.
Political analyst Mujibu Abd Muis meanwhile is of the opinion that votes in Johor divisions may have been split among the four candidates from the state.
He said that voters might have had to pick contenders other than Azalina to fill in the position despite her being on the president's side.
"Besides having two vice presidents from Johor which seems too obvious, it is wise to give a chance to other representatives to fill the position even though they have to pick someone who is not the president’s man while Azalina is one," Mujibu said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) came in fourth in the vice-presidential race in the Umno elections.
The three Umno vice president positions for the 2023-2026 term were bagged by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Federal Territories Umno chairman Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
The official result was announced by Umno Election Committee chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Ab Samad at the Dato’ Onn Tower on Sunday.
