It’s not going to be a walkover for International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.He will be facing Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam and Umno Information chief Muhammad Muhd Taib for the second most powerful post in the party election in March - making the contest a three-way battle.
Ali Rustam, who is also Umno vice-president has secured enough nominations to contest for the post in the party polls. His 39th nomination - the minimum required - came from the Pasir Putih Umno division in Kelantan on Saturday.
Muhammad Taib, the last among the three contenders to be eligible to contest for the post succeeded in getting more than the required numbers on Sunday, the last day of the party’s divisional meetings, with nominations from Kelana Jaya and Hulu Terengganu divisions. He now has 43, three less than Ali Rustam's 46 nominations.
The former Selangor Menteri Besar, said to be fiercely loyal to current party President Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, was forced to step down from his post in 1997 after being charged in Australia for holding currency worth RM3.8 million. He was found not guilty and appointed a senator in 2006 by Abdullah.
Muhyiddin, the former Mentri Besar of Johore and frontrunner for the post, has already bagged 90 nominations. He qualified to contest four weeks ago.
But Umno president-elect Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who won the party's top post uncontested last week, has not publicly declared his preference for the party No 2 spot, and this has turned the contest wide open.
In fact, his division of Pekan abstained from nominating candidates for the party Supreme Council posts, including the deputy presidency, to avoid influencing the delegates in the party election.
Datuk Seri Abdullah had also recently pointed out that there was nothing wrong with any contest for No 2, which many read as tacit support for Ali Rustam.
The race is particularly significant because the Umno deputy president is traditionally appointed Deputy Prime Minister, and will be considered a potential future Prime Minister.
The post was last contested in 1987 party elections – between the then incumbent Tun Musa Hitam and the lateTun Ghaffar Baba.
4 comments:
What will happen if Ali Rustam or Mat Taib won the post of deputy president & then appointed deputy Prime Minister?
Both of them dont have what it takes to be a national leader - cakap Inggeris pun tonggang langgang.
What an embarrassment that will be fror the country.
Could we leave it to the Umno delegates to make a wise decision & vote in the best to lead the country.
On an equal playing field, Tan Sri Muhyiddin is likely to win, but he might lose to the ones who have a bigger "war chest".
Pity Umno if Muhyiddin were to lose to one of these goons.
Aha!
The Man who gave Shahruk Khan the Dato' is on his way....
For giving the bollywood Star a Dato' he will certainly get Rosmah's Ardent support...
Observer
Najib have to give a signal like AAB did of his preference . this is running a country not for a populist action.
I hope Umno members will choose the best among the three candidates - choose one that we can be proud of - not someone who has been a laughing stock, is corrupt and has no integrity.
I guess they should know who are the ones we are referring to. Please, please choose wisely.
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