Controversy in Youth vice-chief post

According to Khairul Azwan Harun's proposer, the Umno Youth vice chief contender had "based on the war room report received more than 73 votes".

KUALA LUMPUR: Two candidates who contested the Umno Youth vice-chief and Wanita Umno division chief posts have sent letters to protest the results announced by the Umno Election Committee (UEC) yesterday.

The letters were sent by representatives of Khairul Azwan Harun and  Hamidah Osman, the candidates for Umno Youth vice-chief and Gopeng Wanita Umno division chief.

Mohamad Annuar Ariffin, the proposer for Khairul Azwan sent the protest letter to the UEC chairman Tajol Rosli Ghazali at about 5pm yesterday.

He said the announcement that Khairul Azwan received 73 votes, the same as another candidate, Jamawi Jaafar is irrelevant as Khairul Azwan had received more votes before the announcement was made.

“Based on the war room report, Khairul had received more than 73 votes. We have proof as the candidate representatives for the divisions which he won can vouch for it.”

Mohammad Annuar urged the UEC to examine the letter.

“We disagree  with the decision to base the result on popular vote. Its not fair to Khairul because we already have the majority,” he added.

Tajol Rosli yesterday said the election result for the post of Umno Youth vice-chief will be announced after Aidiladha.

The result will be based on popular vote as  Khairul Azwan and Jamawi Jaafar were tied on 73 votes.

Meanwhile, Hamidah said there were more ballots than the total delegates who voted for the Gopeng Wanita Umno chief’s post two days ago.

“The number of delegates present were 315 people but there were a total of 328 ballots, an additional 13.”

She claimed that during the counting process, the ballot box was allowed to be kept for five hours without the presence of the candidate’s representatives.

Progressive ideology

On a related matter, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said it was “no use being popular in the party but rejected by the people.”

Ina  special message posted on his Facebook yesterday, Khairy said: “It is no use being popular in the party but rejected by the people because in the end the people are set to decide the leadership of the nation,”

He described the new central committee members as a tool to strengthen the youth wing based on progressive ideology.

He said that both sides must together endeavour to strengthen the youth wing plus honestly and sincerely serve the people.

He also thanked the delegates who had voted and retained him as the Umno Youth chief for the new term.

“The solid support of the delegates nationwide convinced me and made me aware of this heavy trust and responsibility. This proves that the delegates at the grassroots support the progressive agenda and political settlements that I practice all these while,” he said.

Khairy said the success was also a manifestation that the Youth wing continued to be firm and united.

“I am confident this unity will facilitate the task of Umno Youth in
approaching and convincing the young generation in general,” he said.

In the Umno Youth movement election for the top post, Khairy defeated his challengers Syed Rosli Syed Harman, Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi, Irwan Ambak Khalid Izhar and Abd Karim Ali.

-Bernama