Najib, Muhyiddin surge into lead

Source StraitsTimes

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin have surged ahead of the other candidates in the number of nominations.

Datuk Seri Najib, who is vying for the party's top post, received nominations from all 28 divisions, which met on Sunday. Mr Najib is currently Umno deputy president.

The only other candidate who has offered himself for the post is Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who has yet to receive a nomination.

Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he would not be defending the post during party elections in March next year.

A candidate going for the president's post needs to secure 58 nominations or 30 per cent of the 191 divisions to be eligible.

For the deputy presidency, Datuk Seri Muhyiddin, a vice-president now, has secured 23 nominations so far.

Besides his own Pagoh division, Mr Muhyiddin received nominations from Kalabakan, Kuantan, Kampar, Bagan Serai, Cheras, Bukit Gelugor, Tasik Gelugor, Rasah, Taiping, Jempol and Jelebu.

Other nominations came from Mersing, Pasir Gudang, Rompin, Bagan Datoh, Batu Pahat, Kimanis, Machang, Besut, Shah Alam, Semporna and Pontian.

Vice-president Datuk Seri Ali Rustam, who is also making a bid for the deputy presidency, received three nominations - from Parit Buntar, Kota Melaka and Kota Kinabalu.

The other aspiring candidate, Datuk Seri Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, received two nominations - from Beruas and Subang.

The Selangor Umno chief, who is also Umno information chief, however failed to obtain a nomination from Shah Alam.

Candidates need to secure 38 nominations or 20 per cent of the 191 divisions to contest the post.

For the vice-presidency, Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein received 25 nominations. This means he is eligible to contest for the three posts after crossing the qualifying mark of 19 nominations.

Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi too have made a strong showing for the vice-presidency with 14 and 13 nominations respectively. Besides Mr Hishammuddin, the two other Johor candidates for the posts are Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin and Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

The three candidates from Negri Sembilan are Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, his predecessor Tan Sri Isa Samad and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

Others who have received nominations for the vice-presidency are Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis and Datuk Seri Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

All Umno divisions have until Nov 9 to complete their meetings and make their nominations.