Khairy gunning for VP post while Azwan Harun plans to take over from Khairy as Umno Youth chief.
Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin has confirmed that he will contest one of the three Umno vice-president posts in the upcoming party elections.
The outgoing Umno Youth chief announced the move during an interview with the South China Morning Post today.
He also made his intention known after he retweeted a journalist’s tweet on the matter.
Khairy’s announcement puts to rest talk that he might be gunning for the Umno presidency or deputy presidency.
He explained that the post will place him in a better position to re-build the party.
“I have filed my application online to contest the party vice-president post today.
“I feel that the position is well suited for me at this time,” he told reporters at the wing’s buka puasa event.
So far, Umno supreme council members Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani are also rumoured to be contesting the post.
Meanwhile, the New Straits Times reported that Umno Youth deputy chief Azwan Harun plans to contest in the coming party elections and take over Khairy’s post.
“With my experience as a Senator, Umno Youth deputy chief and the support of the grassroots, I will be able to bring the reform agenda (to Umno),” Azwan was quoted as saying.
This year’s Umno elections will likely see contests for all of the party’s top posts, including the presidency and deputy presidency.
The move was adopted by Umno following the party’s and Barisan Nasional’s disastrous performance in GE14.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor announced on Thursday that nominations for all positions in the party elections will begin today.
He said the elections will be open for all, which means a party member does not need to be nominated by another.
“We can nominate ourselves for any positions, even those at the highest level. For example, as I am under Putrajaya, I can personally fill out the form and send it into the Divisional Secretariat for it to be reviewed before the form is submitted to the headquarters to ensure the eligibility of the nomination.
“Likewise at the central level, there will be a committee and an election secretariat. They will study the nominations submitted and scrutinise the candidates to ensure their eligibility.”
Three ways to register as a candidate:
- Register online from June 1 to June 17, 2018
- Unsuccessful online registrations can register via the Umno division office, or
- Download the online registration form and submit the form to the Umno headquarters on June 17, 2018, between 8am and 5pm.
The final list of candidates who are eligible to contest will be displayed at the party’s headquarters in Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).