Party elections not a ticket for state poll candidacy - Zahid

 

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has warned aspiring party leaders that winning a position in the party leadership does not guarantee candidacy in the forthcoming state elections.

Speaking at a party event in Shah Alam last night, Zahid said BN will choose candidates based on their abilities and not because of their popularity within the party.

"The candidates will be chosen based on their 'winnability'... I hope that our (party) election will not be used as a platform to be a (state election) candidate," he said.

Umno will be holding its leadership election on March 18. All positions will be open to contest except the posts of president and deputy president.

Zahid noted that Selangor has the highest number of candidates for the party election - a phenomenon which he speculated was related to the impending Selangor Legislative Assembly election.

"We will focus our efforts on ensuring that Umno and BN will be part of the Selangor government that will be formed after the state election, God willing.

"Perhaps that is why so many of you have offered yourselves as candidates (for the party election)," he said.

Zahid hoped that the party would close ranks after the election and not attack the leadership.

"We don't want thorns in the flesh. We don't want saboteurs... We must not be controlled by outsiders.

"This contest is among our own flesh and blood. There are other parties who are trying to meddle in our affairs," he said.

This is likely a reference to criticisms from Perikatan Nasional leaders on Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution's decision to exempt Umno from being deregistered under the Societies Act 1966. - Mkini