Malaysia Notes

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam is set to take on Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in the fight for the Umno deputy presidency.

The Malacca Chief Minister qualified to contest the post when he received nominations from Pasir Salak, Tumpat, Pendang, Ketereh, Sandakan, Sg Petani and Kubang Kerian bringing his tally to 39.

A candidate needs to secure at least 39 nominations from the 191 divisions to be eligible to contest the party’s number two post in the Umno elections which are scheduled for March.

Muhyiddin was the first to qualify and remains the favourite.

The International Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister continued to pick up nominations from Wangsamaju, Kuala Nerus, Jerai and Kangar.

His total as of 7pm Saturday stands at 82 nominations.

Not to be left out is the third aspirant, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

The Rural and Regional Development Minister is close enough to the finishing line to qualify to run for the post.

With 36 nomination already in the bag, he needs only another three to make it a three-cornered fight.

His nominations on Saturday came from Baling, PJ Selatan, Pensiangan, Sg Besar, Sik and Hulu Langat.

By convention the Umno deputy presidency becomes the Deputy Prime Minister.

Therefore the contest for the deputy presidency is particularly exciting this time around because Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had already said he would be handing over power to his successor after the party elections.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is the anointed successor and has already won the Umno presidency uncontested.

Despite this, he continues to pick up nomination after nomination.

His own division, Pekan, met Saturday and gave him their endorsement to be the next party leader.

The Pekan division however played it safe by opting to stay neutral for its other nominations. It did not nominate anyone for the deputy presidency nor for the vice presidency.

The Kepala Batas division which is the Prime Minister’s division is expected to do same when it meets on Sunday.

For the vice-presidency, Datuk Seri Dr Jamalauddin Jarjis is just one nomination short of qualifying, while Datuk Seri Rais Yatim needs two more.

A candidate needs a minimum of 20 nominations to be able to contest for the vice-presidency.

So far, six have already qualified for the contest. They are Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad.

by The Star