THE SMELL OF REBELLION RISES IN UMNO: KU LI SET TO WIN AS DELEGATES EXPECTED TO DISOBEY ORDERS FROM DIVISION CHIEFS TO BACK ZAHID – REPORT

UMNO division chiefs are expected to support Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for president but a party insider says grassroots delegates may not vote according to their leaders’ preferences.

Division chiefs will likely support Zahid, the interim president, because he holds the mandate to lead after Najib Razak stepped down as party president.

But there were already signs of delegates going against expectations, as seen in the Youth and Wanita elections, said a party source who did not want to be named because of the ongoing campaign ahead of polls for the top posts this Saturday.

Former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki won the race for Youth chief last Saturday, while the Wanita chief post was won by Parit Sulong MP and former Puteri chief Noraini Ahmad.

“If we look at the trend so far, it shows that delegates are not concerned about continuity this time.  

“Continuity from outgoing Youth chief Khairy (Jamaluddin) would have meant that (his deputy) Khairul Azwan Harun would have won,” the source said.

The source added that Khairul Azwan did not win even in Rembau, which was Khairy’s division.

Similarly, the results of the Wanita election also showed that delegates were wiling to forgo the continuity of anointed successors or of those aligned with outgoing leaders.

“The Wanita division chiefs had wanted (former minister) Azizah Mat Dun because she represented continuity from Shahrizat Abdul Jalil,” he said, referring to the outgoing Wanita chief.

“But Noraini Ahmad won. It’s an indication that what the chiefs want, the delegates will not necessarily follow.

“Don’t be surprised if the results this time show that the party president is from Kelantan, the deputy is also from Kelantan, and the Youth chief is also from Kelantan,” the source added.

He was referring to Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, another candidate for the president’s post, and Gua Musang MP. Deputy president candidate Annuar Musa, who is the party’s information chief, is also from the state, as is Asyraf Wajdi, who contested the Pasir Putih federal seat in GE14 but lost.

Traditionally, Umno will not select its top leaders from the same state.

The party elections use a system that combines delegates’ votes with electoral colleges.

The race for president is a tight one between five candidates, with the frontrunners being Zahid, Tengku Razaleigh and Khairy.

The deputy president’s race is between Annuar and former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Mohamad Hasan.

Khairy had urged delegates not to be influenced by their division leaders when they vote.

Nearly 40% of division chiefs retained their posts uncontested and this is being taken as a sign that Zahid will easily succeed Najib, who stepped down as party president after failing to lead Barisan Nasional to electoral victory in the May polls.

One division chief said leaders at his level wanted continuity.

Johan Abd Aziz, who heads the Hulu Langat division, said there was no need to change unofficial party protocol, referring to how the deputy usually succeeds the president.

“Zahid is already acting president, so I will continue this. If Zahid resigns, that’s a different story,” said Johan.

But Labis division chief Mohd Azahar Ibrahim said this time, he would leave it to the delegates to make their choices.

“We leave it to them to choose who they feel is most qualified and who can best lead.”

– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com