By Sharifah Nur Shahrizad Syed Mohamed Sharer
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno’s transformation continues as for the first time in its history, some 146,000 of Umno members at the grass root level will vote to select the party’s top leadership line-up at the party polls tomorrow (Saturday).
The spotlight will surely be on who will be in the party line-up led by party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who already won unopposed.
The election for posts at the national level will be carried out simultaneously with the elections for posts at 191 Umno divisions.
This is the first time the grass root members are given the power to select their leaders after the party’s constitution was amended in 2009, which aimed at having a more open and transparent election, through the implementation of the electoral college system, and combating money politics.
Prior to this, the election for top posts at the national level involved only approximately 2,500 delegates attending the party’s general assembly.
Tomorrow, the party election at the national level will see 71 candidates contesting for the 29 available seats, namely for the post of Deputy Permanent Chairman (one seat, three candidates), Vice-President (three seats, six candidates) and Supreme Council members (25 seats, 62 candidates).
Focus will be on the six candidates for the vice-president’s (VP) posts, comprising the three incumbents – Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal – and their three challengers – Tan Sri Isa Samad, Datuk Seri Ali Rustam and Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir.
Many want to see whether the Hishamuddin-Ahmad Zahid-Shafie pact will be able to retain power, while others are anticipating a new pact to be formed with Mukhriz, who is the favourite candidate among the challengers, in it.
While Mukhriz, who is Kedah Menteri Besar, is vying for the VP post, three other state leaders, are contesting with 59 other candidates for the 25 Supreme Council seats.
They are Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar), Datuk Seri Idris Haron (Melaka Chief Minister) and Azlan Man (Perlis Menteri Besar).
Also contesting for the seats are eight ministers, namely Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim; Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob; Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed; Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh; Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Miniser Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahalan; and Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Hasan Malek.
Four deputy ministers are also vying for the seats, namely Deputy Works Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin; Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim; Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman; and Deputy Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique.
Several incumbents are also contesting to defend their seats, including Datuk Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir, Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, Datuk Seri Jamaludin Mohd Jarjis, Datuk Bung Moktar Radin, Datuk Abd Latiff Ahmad, Datuk Dr Norraesah Mohamad and Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
Some big names are also vying for the seats, including Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz, while the presence of Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik and Datuk Seri Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman, has triggered the question whether they can really affect the chances of other young candidates.
Tomorrow’s elections will also see a three-corner fight for the post of deputy permanent chairman as incumbent Datuk Mohamad Aziz is being challenged by Ahmad Fariz Abdullah and Datuk Abd Rahman Palil.
Permanent chairman Tan Sri Badruddin Amiruldin has won unopposed.
So far, the Umno headquarters has yet to make public when the results of the election will be announced.