POPULAR VOTE IRONY: Umno losers now know how it feels to beaten by an UNFAIR SYSTEM

A pro-Umno blogger has questioned the victories of Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and his Wanita counterpart, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, pointing out that there is a need to know if they won the popular vote.

Syed Akhbar Ali of OutSyed The Box said their victories were not absolute because the party's new election system is based on the electoral college system where no matter how many, or how few, votes are cast, in the end each division counts as just one vote.

In explaining the voting system involving 191 Umno divisions, he said if a candidate wins 97 divisions or just more than half of 191 divisions, he or she is declared the simple winner.

"But what is the number of popular votes cast? This is what we want to know. Don't forget there are about 80,000 voters for the Youth chief post and another 80,000 voters for the Wanita chief post. Spread over 191 divisions, this averages out to about 400+ voters per division only.

"So where is the popular vote count? Or is Umno going to cover it up?" he questioned in his blog today.

“Did Khairy and Shahrizat win or lose the popular vote?" he asked, referring to the total number of votes cast for each position and what percentage of those did the two win.

However, Syed Akhbar believed the party would not reveal the answer and alleged that Umno would cover up the matter.

"Umno is certainly doomed. Tainted candidates who have no talent other than polishing and storm trooping have carried the day," he declared.

At the party's election involving its three wings yesterday, Khairy and Shahrizat won with convincing majorities while Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin became the new Puteri Umno chief.

Unlike previous elections where a selected number of delegates voted at the assembly, the voting saw some 220,000 grassroots members voting for its leadership.

Next Saturday about 146,000 delegates from 191 divisions nationwide will cast their votes to select three vice-presidents and the supreme council members.

Party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, were returned to their posts unopposed.