Headline Umno vice-presidential race still wide open MediaTitle New Straits Times Date 15 Oct 2013 Language English Circulation 136,530 Readership 330,000 Section Local News Color Full Color Page No 6 ArticleSize 311 cm² AdValue RM 10,146 PR Value RM 30,439 Umno vice­presidential race still wide open IKE Manhattan grand ballroom at tial line­up after calls by several quar­ Over the past few weeks, Shane and the Berjaya Times Square Hotel was ters to rejuvenate the party so that it Zahid have been crisscrossing the packed with senior Umno members would remain relevant country galvanising support. on Sunday night, as incumbent Um­ But Hishammudddin, along with Zahid, whom observers see as the no vice­president Datuk Seri fellow incumbents Datuk Seri Dr strongest among the three incum­ Hishammuddin Hussein strolled in. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk bents, has a strong following, and he Accompanied by his entourage, Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, were part of is hopeful these will translate into AdlbPovera Hishammuddin smiled and waved the party leadership who proved votes this Saturday. The no­non­ to those who occupied the more Umno's resilience in the last general sense home minister was welcomed than 200 tables draped in bright red election by increasing its share of with thunderous applause at gath­ cloth. Malay votes. erings in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor The "Rangkaian Sahabat Muda", and Perak earlier this month. At the At last month's nomination day or Youth Friendship Network, pro­ same event in Kuala Lumpur, Shafie, for the party polls, the trio came gramme was a dinner to raise sup­ who is regional and rural develop­ together in a show of solidarity as ment minister, elicited a similar re­ port for the defence minister's bid to incumbents and announced that action from party members. retain his party post. they had an "understanding" to de­ At 52, Hishammuddin has aged But it is hard to ignore Mukhriz. fend their posts. Some argue that people see him as quite gracefully. His skin is flawless, This, in turn, indicated that there an extension of his father, former despite being weathered by the was strong support from harsh political climate in the lead­ prime minister Tun Mahathir Mo­ the grassroots to preserve up to the Umno polls. Even he did hamad. the status quo. The results not deny that detractors were train­ of the recent polls for the Apart from undivided support ing their sights on him. party wings' top posts — from Kedah members, a party in­ "I am aware that there are certain where Wanita chief Datuk sider said Mukhriz had also received quarters who called me names, es­ Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil overwhelming support from the pecially over the Lahad Datu intru­ and Youth chief Khairy grassroots in Sabah, Pahang and sion. Jamaluddin won by huge several other states. "They said I was slow but little do vote margins — also point But it's not going to be easy for they know the real issues. This is to this. Mukhriz. The outcome of the polls normal in politics. I have been Universiti Utara for the party's three wings gave rise through all for the past 20 years and Malaysia political analyst Associate to speculation of a "mild boycott" I am not surprised by it," he said in Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, against two of Mukhriz's state ex­ his speech. however, stressed it would be a dif­ ecutive councillors, Datuk Suraya No one can overlook the political ferent ball game in the contests for Yaacob and Norsabrina Mohd Noor, prowess that Hishammuddin had de­ the vice­presidencies, as the incum­ who lost the contests for the Wanita veloped over the years. For instance, bents faced popular candidates in Umno vice­chief post and Puteri his candidacy to defend his post was Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk vice­chief posts, respectively. duly endorsed by Umno secretary­ Mukhriz Mahathir, former Malacca Suraya failed to secure endorse­ general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali ments from several divisions in Tengku Mansor, who was present Rustam and former Negri Sembilan Kedah, including Jerlun (of which that night. menteri besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Ab­ Mukhriz is division chairman), Sun­ "I know I can be repri­ dul Samad. gai Petani and Baling. Norsabrina suf­ manded for what I am go­ "The contest for the party's vice­ fered the same fate when the Kedah ing to say next but in my president posts is more intense com­ Puteri divisions of Pendang, Merbok capacity as the Federal and Sungai Petani voted against her. pared with the Wanita and Youth Territories Umno liaison Political analyst Anbumani Balan races. The incumbent vice­presi­ committee chairman, I said it was unclear who led the vice­ dents should not feel complacent would like to see the in­ president's race as each candidate since their challengers are big had his own strengths and was a cumbent to stay to ensure names in politics. Mukhriz is an idol favourite among party members. continuity in the party's among the younger generation, transformation agenda," while Ali and Isa are veterans who "Every candidate stands a chance. Whatever the outcome, Umno has said Tengku Adnan. still command strong support from made history in the country by em­ For sometime, it had been spec­ the party's grassroots." ulated that there would be significant The incumbents know they powering more than 146,000 dele­ changes in the Umno vice­presiden­ should not leave things to chance. gates to chart the party's future.".