MUHYIDDIN BERTANDING TIMB PRESIDEN UMNO

PETALING JAYA 10 OKT: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mengumumkan akan bertanding untuk jawatan Timbalan Presiden Umno dalam pemilihan parti bulan Mac 2009 nanti. BERNAMA

CALON TIMBALAN PRESIDEN UMNO SETERUSNYA .... MUHD TAIB

BERNAMA : UMNO Information Chief, Muhammad Mohd Taib announced that he will be contesting UMNO Deputy President post.

UPSTART GETS UMNO UPTIGHT

COMMENTARY

OCT 9 — Datuk Nur Jazlan’s bold bid for the Umno No. 2 post has got his party elders uptight.

Umno-linked TV3 cancelled an interview with the Pulai division chief two days ago as it joined the rest of the party-owned media in reporting his “struggle” to fend off a challenge by his deputy for his current position.

The two-term Pulai MP has had a good run in the local press and also with the online media after his shock announcement to vie for Umno’s deputy presidency, which carries with it the deputy prime minister’s post. TV3 had a phone-in interview with him on Sunday night while local newspapers splashed the news with commentaries and analyses.

He even had a Utusan Malaysia "Senyum Kambing" cartoon about his ambition to be the Umno deputy president.

However, senior party officials greeted his announcement in disbelief and dismissed him as a party lightweight out to make a name for himself for a seat in the party supreme council. They together with several commentators had cited his age and lack of experience in national politics as reasons for him to be realistic of his place in the party.

"There is a Malay proverb which goes like this: Ukur baju di badan sendiri," New Straits Times political writer Zubaidah Abu Bakar wrote on Monday, echoing the view of politicians and observers across the country on Nur Jazlan's tilt at the senior post.

Others were not that kind. Former party president and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said apart from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who has yet to announce his bid, the others contesting the post were "jokers".

Perlis Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said: "There are too many candidates for the post... this is not a place for any Tom, Dick and Harry", while his Pahang Umno counterpart Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob warned that having too many candidates might give the public the impression that members were power crazy.

Their initial comments have now given way to a concerted campaign to highlight Nur Jazlan's chances of retaining his division from his deputy Datuk Omar Sapian, who told TV3 that there was a difference between running a division and a party, let alone the country.

But the 42-year-old chartered accountant and his allies are undeterred. State party elders had tried to block his nomination in the 2004 general election but Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had insisted his candidacy then and also retained him for the 2008 polls.

"They can only attack his age and lack of experience but not his ideas," a close associate of Nur Jazlan told The Malaysian Insider.

The associate said Nur Jazlan is not campaigning but has received encouraging response particularly from outside the party. His website http://www.jazlan.net/ has also seen increasing hits as those curious about the politician surf the web in search of information.

"The Umno seniors are out of touch. They can blank him out in the mainstream media but the young ones only rely on the Internet. They haven't learnt from their losses on March 8.

"This is why Nur Jazlan is making his bid now. It’s not about getting power today but for Umno to remain relevant and keep up with the times," he added.

When contacted, Nur Jazlan was nonplussed about the lack of media spotlight. "I don't know what the fuss is about. I just declared my bid. I am not a candidate yet as there have been no nominations," he said, adding he was amused by the shrill opposition to his candidacy even as nominations start this week.

Umno divisional meetings begin tomorrow with the first two in Kimanis and Machang. - TMI

MUHYIDDIN, ALI RUSTAM AND NOW ... FOR UMNO NO 2

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 - Umno Pulai chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, who audaciously asked Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to quit after the March 8 electoral debacle, is joining the slowly crowding race for the party deputy presidency.

The two-term Pulai MP's advisers floated the idea with him at his family Hari Raya dinner last night in light of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Ali Rustam's declared interest in the post.

"Umno needs to consider making a generational change in leadership. I want to represent the younger generation who will succeed Najib," Nur Jazlan told The Malaysian Insider.If he does get the 39 nominations for a tilt to be the Umno No 2, the 42-year-old chartered accountant will be the youngest candidate thus far for the post that brings in tow the country's deputy premiership in a Barisan Nasional government.

Umno supreme council member and former Youth chief Zahid is 55 while vice-president Ali is 59. A candidate for the deputy job needs 20 percent of nominations from the 191 Umno divisions.

Nur Jazlan is defending his divisional post against his deputy and was said to be eyeing a supreme council seat until the two announced their intention to replace Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak who is set to take over from Abdullah next March.

Abdullah, whose June 2010 power transition plan has been shredded by the supreme council last month, is now not likely to defend his post.

The strong favourite for the deputy presidency is still vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, 61, who said he will decide after Abdullah's announcement. At least four divisions have said they will nominate Muhyiddin.

Nur Jazlan, who joined Umno in 1988 at the behest of his father - former Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat - was an Umno Youth exco member between 1996 and 2004, when he first stood in Mohamed's Pulai stronghold.

"Why not? Any Umno member can offer themselves for any post," Mohamed told The Malaysian Insider when contacted about his son's candidacy.

Nur Jazlan was tipped to be the Johor Mentri Besar earlier this year but Umno decided to keep him in his federal seat in the March 8 polls.

Umno officials expect a few more to contest the No 2 post after Abdullah's expected statement to step aside before divisional meetings begin on Oct 9.

Only Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has said he will contest the Umno presidency thus far but Najib is seen to have a better chance of winning the post and become Prime Minister.

Up to 15 are expected to contest for the three vice-presidential slots opened up by Muhyiddin and Ali's expected tussle for Najib's post.. Another vice-president Tan Sri Isa Samad was stripped off his post when he was found guilty of money politics.

Party officials also forecast some 100 candidates will vie for the 25 supreme council seats. ... TMI

MS: Ramai nya nak jadi Timbalan Perdana Menteri??

HOT RACE FOR UMNO NO 2 JOB

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — The Umno deputy presidency is heading for a heated contest among the party's middle-rung leaders who have their eye cast on becoming Malaysia's next deputy prime minister.

Even before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announces his retirement in favour of his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak — which he is expected to do — Umno's second-liners are actively seeking support to fill the No. 2 vacancy.

The contest is closely watched as Umno's deputy president is also, by convention, the country's deputy premier.

Minister-in-charge of religion Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was the first to throw his hat into the ring, although Minister of International Trade and Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is also expected to put his name on the ballot.

“Yes, yes, I will be contesting (the deputy president's post),” Ahmad Zahid was reported as saying by The Star yesterday.

Muhyiddin had said he would make an announcement only after Abdullah makes his stand clear. It is understood that at least two other leaders are also testing the ground: former menteris besar for Negri Sembilan Tan Sri Isa Samad and for Selangor Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

The race is heating up fast as it is rare for the top two posts in Umno to come up vacant. Abdullah's decision not to contest the top post will see Najib heading upwards, leaving his own seat vacant.

The Prime Minister has pledged to announce his decision before the divisions begin meeting to make their nominations on Oct 9.

Ahmad Zahid's announcement has caused a flutter in Umno, prompting some to describe him as impatient.

“It is premature,” said an Umno Youth leader in Johor.

But it is not surprising as candidates must obtain 39 nominations, or 20 per cent of the 191 divisions, to qualify to contest.

It is also seen by some as a move to check Muhyiddin's easy ride. He had angered Abdullah's supporters by being among the first to urge him to retire early to allow Umno to rebuild.
He also started the latest push to oust Abdullah when he called last month for the Prime Minister to retire earlier than his original planned date of June 2010.

Muhyiddin, 61, is currently seen as the front runner, especially as a team with Najib. Several divisions announced that they would nominate the two for the top positions. But Muhyiddin lacks wide grassroots support, even in his home state of Johor.

A senior Johor warlord told The Straits Times that his division would prefer someone “of a younger generation”.

The 55-year-old Ahmad Zahid is popular on the ground, having maintained his network since he was Youth chief from 1996 to 1998.

He reportedly told The Star that he decided to go for the post due to requests by the grassroots for him to join forces with Najib.

He was a former political secretary to Najib, and former close ally of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Najib's aides believe that the deputy premier will remain neutral, and allow the party delegates to make their choice in the party polls next March. — The Straits Times

ALI RUSTAM JUGA TAWAR DIRI BERTANDING TIMB PRESIDEN UMNO

MELAKA: Naib Presiden Umno, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam menawarkan diri untuk bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden pada pemilihan parti Mac depan.

"Saya sedia bertanding sekiranya ada kekosongan jawatan timbalan presiden parti, saya menawarkan diri (bertanding jawatan itu)," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama di sini hari ini.

Mohd Ali, 59, yang juga Ketua Menteri Melaka sebelum ini menawarkan diri bertanding mempertahankan jawatan naib presiden yang dimenanginya kali pertama sewaktu pemilihan parti pada 2004.

Pengumuman Mohd Ali hari ini, meletakkan beliau sebagai pemimpin kedua, selepas Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yang menyatakan hasratnya bertanding Timbalan Presiden Umno pada pemilihan Mac depan. ... BERNAMA

SAH ZAHID HAMIDI MAHU TANDING TIMB PRESIDEN UMNO

PETALING JAYA: Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr. Zahid Hamidi mengesahkan yang beliau bersedia untuk bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden Umno pada pemilihan Mac depan.

Ketika dihubungi mStar Online hari ini, anggota Majlis Tertinggi (MT) Umno itu berkata: "Ya, ya, saya akan bertanding (jawatan Timbalan Presiden)."

Kata Zahid, beliau akan memenuhi kehendak ahli jika dicalonkan untuk jawatan tersebut dan akan membuat pendirian rasmi apabila memperoleh pencalonan kelak.

Zahid menjelaskan, beliau memutuskan untuk bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden susulan perubahan senario politik dalam Umno sekarang dan atas permintaan ahli-ahli akar umbi parti yang mahu beliau 'berganding' dengan Datuk Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak memimpin Umno.

"Ekoran mesyuarat Majlis Tertinggi baru-baru ini (26 September lalu) di mana (Presiden Umno), Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengumumkan pelan peralihan akan dipercepatkan, senario dalam Umno sudah mula berubah.

"Oleh itu, rakan-rakan (saya) merasakan bahawa saya perlu mempertimbangkan untuk bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden... justeru, saya perlu memenuhi kehendaki akar umbi agar bertanding jawatan nombor dua," kata beliau.

Desas-desus kedengaran sejak Khamis lalu, yang Zahid, Ahli Parlimen Bagan Datoh sejak 1995, bakal menjadi gandingan Najib apabila beliau mengambil alih jawatan Presiden Umno yang kemungkinan dikosongkan Abdullah dalam waktu terdekat.

Abdullah akan mengumumkan sebelum 9 Oktober ini sama ada bertanding jawatan Presiden ataupun sebaliknya.

Persidangan perwakilan bahagian bermula 9 Oktober ini.

Zahid, 55, merupakan bekas Ketua Pemuda Umno sebelum beliau ditahan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) pada September 1998.

Ekoran pilihan raya umum 2004, Abdullah melantik Zahid sebagai Timbalan Menteri Pelancongan dan dua tahun kemudian sebagai Timbalan Menteri Penerangan.

Dalam Kabinet Mac 2008 beliau dilantik sebagai Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri.
Pada pemilihan Umno pusat 2004, Zahid berjaya mempertahankan kerusi MT dengan memperoleh undi kedua terbanyak.

Ketika ditanya mengenai kemungkinan gandingan Najib pada pemilihan Mac depan, Zahid berkata, perkara tersebut belum diputuskan.

Bagaimanapun jelas Zahid, beliau akan berbincang dengan Najid dalam waktu terdekat.
"Saya akan mendapatkan tarikh temu janji untuk menemui Najib dalam waktu terdekat," katanya.

Awal minggu ini, Umno Bahagian Cheras dan Titiwangsa di Wilayah Persekutuan mengumumkan akan mencalonkan Najib dan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, salah seorang Naib Presiden semasa, masing-masing untuk jawatan Presiden dan Timbalan Presiden Umno.

Zahid memberitahu, berdasarkan pengalaman dalam Umno selama ini beliau mampu untuk memikul tanggungjawab tersebut jika diberikan peluang.

"Ketua Pemuda Umno (yang disandang dari 1996 hingga 1998) juga setaraf dengan Naib Presiden, dan kini saya merupakan anggota Majlis Tertinggi," katanya.

- mSTAR