KUALA LUMPUR: Umno delegates nationwide have commenced meetings to elect their divisional, supreme council and presidential leaders for the 2018-2021 term.
The divisional meetings began simultaneously at 9am at 191 party divisions in the country.
Party elections had been postponed since 2016 to enable Umno to concentrate on the 14th general election, which was held this year.
Five candidates are standing for president, among them, three heavyweights – Bagan Datuk MP and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah; and Rembau MP and former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
The two other contenders are Bandar Tun Razak division member Mohamed Iqbal Maricair; and Iskandar Puteri Division member Mohd Yusof Musa @ Jamaluddin.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak stepped down as party president following the defeat of Barisan Nasional in the May 9 national polls, leaving Ahmad Zahid to discharge the duties of president.
The contest for the deputy president post is a straight fight between supreme council member and former Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan; and Umno Information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
The position has been vacant since Feb 2016, when then-Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was suspended from the party and sacked four months later.
The three posts of Umno vice-president are being contested by seven candidates. They are Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob; Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin; Sheikh Razali Sheikh Hamad; Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid; Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman; Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and Datuk Seri Ahmad Said.
While Ahmad Zahid is going for the presidency, the second vice-president, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, is not contesting. The third post of vice-president, meanwhile, has been vacant since the sacking of Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who is now the Chief Minister of Sabah.
A total of 106 candidates are contesting the 25 posts of Supreme Council member.
Leaders at the divisional level will also be elected today.
The results of the contest for central positions will be announced by Umno at its headquarters tonight; while the outcome of divisional post elections will be revealed by respective divisional permanent chairmen.
Several divisional leaders have been returned unopposed. One of them is former party president Najib, who returned as head of the Pekan Division.
Last Saturday, Umno completed its delegates meetings and elections for its three wings – Wanita, Youth and Puteri. – BERNAMA
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