Umno polls: Youth chief contender causes a stir at centre

(The Star) – An Umno Youth chief contender, clutching a copy of the Quran in his right hand, caused a stir when he went into a tirade against the ills of money politics after filing his nomination papers at the Putra World Trade Centre here.

Syed Rosli Syed Harman Jamalullail (pic) took a swipe at incumbent leader chief Khairy Jamaluddin and his line-up and swore he would not give in to corruption nor practise money politics if elected to the post.

The Pusat Bandar Taman Chempaka branch committee member claimed the current Youth leadership did not understand the actual struggle of the Malays.

He added that Khairy had spent 20 years outside Malaysia and was not able to understand the problems faced by the people.

“How can such a person understand the plight of the people?” he asked.

Syed Rosli, 37, drew the attention of the media and the Umno members who had gathered at the nomination centre, but was reprimanded by the working committee as any form of campaigning was only allowed outside the nomination area.

Syed Rosli is among four people challenging Khairy for the post.

The others are Akhramsyah Sanusi, a son of former Kedah mentri besar Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, former Merbok Umno Youth chief Karim Ali and Bukit Setiawangsa Umno Youth branch chief Irwan Ambak.

Asked if the five-way tussle for the post would create disunity within the wing, Khairy said: “The Youth members are wise enough and understand the process of democracy.”

He added that there was also a contest for the post at the last party election in 2009 but the movement remained strong.

In that election, Khairy faced off a challenge by former Selangor mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and then Umno Youth exco member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, the current Kedah mentri besar.

Umno Youth, together with the Wanita and Puteri wings, will hold their delegates meeting and elections simultaneously on Oct 12.