Umno Polls: Muhyiddin looks set to face a tough challenge...

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.

Umno AGM to be held from March 24-28...

...this was decided by the Supreme Council, said party president Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after its meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre on Friday.

The party elections will also be held during that time ending speculations that it might be brought forward to December this year, as was originally scheduled.

Speaking to reporters after a three-hour council meeting, Abdullah said: "The decision has been made long ago.”

On the handover of power to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who continues to take the lead for Umno president post with a total of 78 nominations as of last week end and unlikely to be challenged - Abdullah said it would take place after the party polls.

“You have got to give it a few days to sort things out." He said.

He also said that among the topics discussed at the were those involving campaigning, lobbying and money politics in the impending polls.

Abdullah, who is also prime minister, revealed that agents, campaign managers nd vote canvassers have been found staying in hotels around Kuala Lumpur.

“We have sent out observers to spot them. I am warning them to go home or stern actions will be taken against them.”

He also warned candidates against using “either directly or indirectly” overnment machineries for campaign purposes and not to spread lies through short messaging service (SMS). – extracts from Malaysiakini. For full report. go here and The Star report, here.