MUKHRIZ PROXIES EMERGE: Sanusi's son to take on Khairy for top Youth post

KUALA LUMPUR - Akhramsyah, the son of former Kedah chief minister and Umno secretary-general Sanusi Junid, has confirmed his intention to challenge Khairy Jamaluddin for the Umno Youth chief post, the New Straits Times reported on Sunday evening.

Akhramsyah is seen as a proxy for Mukhriz Mahathir, the current Kedah chief minister and youngest son of former premier Mahathir Mohamad.

Khairy, the son-in-law of another former premier Abdullah Badawi, has stated his intention to defend the post and has also openly declared support for Prime Minister Najib Razak, the current Umno president.

Line-up loyal to Mukhriz begins to show up

Mukhriz had lost to Khairy in the contest for the Umno Youth chief post in 2009.

However, Mukhriz has moved on to head the northern Malaysian state and is now eyeballing a Vice President's post, which is higher than the Youth Chief's.

It is telling that Akhramsyah's confirmation comes a day after Najib unveiled a package of economic policies aimed specifically to benefit the Malays.

Despite being condemned for the racist overture, Najib is believed to have hammered through the plan so as to make himself hugely popular with the Umno grassroots.

Such a step would help Najib lift himself out of reach of his rivals such as Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, whom many suspect may challenge him for the presidency with the backing of the Mahathir faction.

Some Umno insiders believe it was also a signal from the Mahathir camp that they were ready for battle and Mukhriz would soon announce his decision to contest for a VP post.

A win at the VP level would pave the way for Mukhriz to become the Umno deputy president and later on the president. By convention, the Umno president and deputy president are also appointed Malaysia's prime minister and deputy prime minister respectively.

Second-generation assumes battle stations

It is not clear yet if Mahathir will continue to back Muhyiddin to take on Najib.

There are signs that the veteran leader may reconcile with his old rival Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, and offer an alternative line-up in which Razaleigh would go for the No. 1 post, leaving Muhyiddin to be challenged by Home Minister Zahid Hamidi.

Akhramsyah would help fill the vanguard leading the charge for Mukhriz. More candidates aligned to Mahathir are expected to emerge in the days ahead.

"Sanusi Junid had always been a Mahathir die-hard loyalist. His son is following in his footsteps with Mukhriz. The second-generation Mahathir faction is starting to emerge and they want control of Umno. It looks like we have a battle royale on our hands," an Umno watcher told Malaysia Chronicle.

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