Shock defeat for the AGGRESSIVE Hamidah

DATUK Hamidah Osman, who pulled out of the contest for Wanita Umno's vice-chief post, was dealt a shock when she failed to defend her position as the Gopeng Wanita chief post.

Hamidah, who is Wanita Umno information chief and a former senior Perak executive councillor, lost in a three-cornered fight for the post.

The winner was Juliliyana Mohd Junid, a relatively lesser-known party leader compared with Hamidah. Juliliyana polled 163 votes to clinch the post.

Hamidah garnered 143 votes while the third candidate, Wan Razita Wan Razak, obtained 20 votes.

A total of 328 delegates voted at the division's Wanita election.

At press time, only five out of 24 divisions in Perak had announced the results for all three wings, while at least 10 have yet to announce results for any of the wings. The divisions that had announced results for all three wings were Batu Gajah, Tapah, Kampar, Ipoh Barat and Tanjung Malim.

Except for the Youth wing's meeting for Ipoh Barat division, the voting went on smoothly throughout the state.

At the Ipoh Barat Youth division meeting yesterday morning, Affendy Harun, who was disqualified from contesting as Youth division chief, went to Syuen Hotel, the venue of the meeting, to check whether his name was included in the list at the last minute.

This despite learning on Thursday that his name had been excluded from the ballot papers. His disqualification led to Syamsul Baharin Putra Ahmad Shibi winning the post uncontested.

Affendy said he was disappointed that his name was excluded but accepted the decision.

At the Batu Gajah Youth division meeting, the post of the division vice-chief was not contested after the only person to contest the post was disqualified.

Batu Gajah division chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Kassim said Salmanjihani Bahari's disqualification could have resulted from errors in filling up his nomination form.

However, he said, the party's election committee would be able to shed light on Salmanjihani's disqualification.

Regarding concerns and issues raised prior to yesterday's elections, Perak Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the state liaison committee would look into them.

"(Nevertheless) the meetings went on harmoniously.

"However, we will monitor the situation to identify any shortcomings so that they can be rectified," he said in Seri Manjung.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said candidates vying for posts in Umno's Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings had been advised to accept the decision made by delegates.

Juliliyana Mohd Junid (second from right) celebrating after winning the Gopeng Wanita Umno chief post yesterday. Pic by Ikhwan Munir