Ghani: Up to divisions to decide on candidates

Source NST

MUAR: Johor Umno is leaving it to its divisions to decide on the candidates for nomination to the party's top posts at divisional meetings to be held over a month from Thursday, Johor Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said yesterday.

Ghani, who is also Johor menteri besar, said the committee would not take sides after finding that many leaders, including from Johor, intended to contest the top positions in the party elections in March next year.

"We will leave it to the divisional delegates to nominate candidates of their choice," he said after the Aidilfitri open house at his residence in Sungai Mati here.

So far, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is an Umno supreme council member, and Malacca chief minister and Umno vice-president Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam have announced their intention to contest the post of deputy president.

International Trade and Industry Minister and Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Rural and Regional Development Minister and Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib are expected to announce their intention to contest for that post after prime minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announces by Thursday whether he would seek re-election to the party's No 1 post.