Mukhriz likely to go for Umno VP post, upsetting party call for status quo
(TMI) – In the past few days, Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been sending out feelers to party delegates and power brokers: he would like the current slate of Umno vice-presidents to be returned at the upcoming party polls.
But this neat plan of helping Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein retain their positions is likely to be muddled with Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (pic, below) almost certain to decide tonight on putting his name in for one of the three vice-presidents’ slots.
Sources told The Malaysian Insider that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s son is meeting Kedah party chieftains today and will later make an announcement about his ambitions in the party.
His decision to enter the fray will put Najib in an uncomfortable position. If the current party president stays neutral, it is likely that his cousin, Hishammuddin, could be a loser when votes are tallied.
If his aides and operatives continue making the rounds and indicating that he wants the status quo, he could upset the Dr Mahathir camp.
In recent weeks, bloggers aligned to the former prime minister have been talking up Mukhriz’s chances of securing one of the three vice-presidential slots, which is seen as a step closer to being at the top of the party leadership.
The 48-year-old became Kedah mentri besar after winning a state seat in the May 5 general election and pro-Umno bloggers feel that he should take a shot at the vice-presidency or lose out in seniority to other upcoming leaders in Umno.
Others in the running to be vice-presidents are Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad and former Malacca chief minister Datuk Seri Ali Rustam, although the latter is said to have been offered a senatorship and a plum corporate post to withdraw from the race.
Ali was knocked out of the deputy president’s race in the last party elections in 2009 after claims of money politics.
But Dr Mahathir has said the party needs renewal and younger leaders, in what is seen as a call to party veterans to allow Mukhriz and those his age to move up in the party.
