IPOH, Oct 16 (Bernama) — The delegates’ meetings of eight more Perak Umno divisions this weekend are expected to focus on nominating the candidates for the party deputy president post amid the keen contest for the head post in three of the divisions.
After the Parit Buntar division had nominated Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam while the Beras division chose Rural and Regional Development Minister Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib last Sunday, the question is whether there will be more divisions following suit.
“The Perak Umno Liaison Committee had decided to leave it to the divisions to make the choice. We only gave our full support to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for the presidency and Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for one of the three vice-president posts,” a division chief who did not wish to be identified, told Bernama.
He said the Kampar division, however, had gone against the committee’s decision made at a special meeting last week, by not nominating Ahmad Zahid and this indicated that Perak Umno divisions could decide on their own, the candidates.
The committee’s decision in giving them a free hand means the door is open for delegates to choose candidates other than International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is currently the leading contender with 24 nominations so far for the Umno No. 2 post, compared with three nominations for Mohd Ali and two for Muhammad.
It is said that many party grassroot members in Perak were disappointed that the Pagoh division led by Muhyiddin did not nominate Ahmad Zahid for a vice-president post.
“What signal has Pagoh given? Perhaps there are divisions which are now forced to revise their list of candidates for the party presidency right down to the Supreme Council seats,” said a division vice-head who is a strong supporter of Ahmad Zahid.
He predicted that all the eight divisions meeting this weekend would nominate Najib for the party’s top post and vote for the candidates for the No. 2 post.
Two divisions which will draw attention are Padang Rengas headed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz and Grik led by former menteri besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali, who is also the Perak liaison chief, as to who will be on their list of candidates for the Supreme Council.
Mohamed Nazri and Tajol Rosli won their divisional posts uncontested, while Datuk Samsuddin Abu Hassan (Tapah), Datuk Yusof Kassim (Batu Gajah) and Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib (Tanjung Malim) were also returned to their posts.
The Bukit Gantang and Ipoh divisions will each get a new leader this weekend as the incumbents are not seeking re-election.
The Ipoh Barat division will see a contest between its deputy head Shamsuddin Ghaffar and vice-head Datuk Ghani Ngah after the incumbent Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin, the Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister, decided to move to the Larut division.
In Bukit Gantang, Trong assemblyman Datuk Rosli Husin and the division’s information chief Ismail Saffian will be vying for the divisional top post as the incumbent had decided not to seek re-election.
The Lenggong division will see its head since 2004, Datuk Saarani Mohamad, being challenged by its information chief Roslan Latif.
Last Sunday, three of the six divisions which held their delegates’ meetings, saw contests for the top post with two springing a surprise when the incumbents lost.
Beruas division deputy chief Abdul Manaf Hashim now heads the division after he defeated incumbent Datuk Hamdi Abu Bakar, the Pengkalan Baharu assemblyman, with a majority of 18 votes in the straight fight.
Taiping division committee member Datuk Ahmad Shalimin Ahmad Shafiee, meanwhile, defeated incumbent Datuk Dr Abdul Malek Hanafiah by 14 votes to now lead the division.
Bagai Serai division chose Datuk Zaili Cha as its new head. The former Selinsing assemblyman defeated the other contender, Mohd Noor Dawoo, by 102 votes.
The incumbent division chief, former deputy defence minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin, chose not to defend the post.
Ahmad Zahid, Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan and Datuk Abdul Rahman Suliman have retained their post as head of the Bagan Datoh, Kampar and Parit Buntar divisions respectively.
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