KUALA LUMPUR: Khairy Jamaluddin has confirmed that he will contest the Umno vice-president’s post in the upcoming party elections.
Khairy, who is outgoing Umno Youth chief, announced the move during an interview with the South China Morning Post here today.
The Rembau member of parliament also made his intention known after he retweeted a journalist's tweet on the matter.
Khairy's announcement puts to rest talk that he might be gunning for the Umno presidency or deputy presidency.
Meanwhile, Umno Youth deputy chief Azwan Harun said he plans to contest in the coming party elections and take over Khairy's post.
"With my experience as a Senator, Umno Youth deputy chief and the support of the grassroots, I will be able to bring the reform agenda (to Umno)," said Azwan when contacted today.
This year's Umno elections will likely see contests for all of the party's top posts, including the presidency and deputy presidency.
The move was adopted by Umno following the party's and Barisan Nasional’s poor showing in the 14th General Election (GE14) on May 9.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor announced Thursday that nominations for all positions in the upcoming party elections will commence today.
He said the elections will be open for all, which means a party member does not need to be nominated by another.
“We can nominate ourselves for any positions, even those at the highest level. For example, as I am under Putrajaya, I can personally fill out the form and send it into the Divisional Secretariat for it to be reviewed before the form is submitted to the headquarters to ensure the eligibility of the nomination.
“Likewise at the central level, there will be a committee and an election secretariat. They will study the nominations submitted and scrutinise the candidates to ensure their eligibility.”
There are three ways to register as a candidate:
1. Online registration from June 1 to June 17, 2018,
2. Unsuccessful online registrations can register via the Umno division office, or
3. Download the online registration form and submit the form to the Umno headquarters on June 17, 2018, between 8am and 5pm.
The final list of candidates who are eligible to contest will be displayed at the party’s headquarters in Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).