Ahmad Zahidi and Shafie Apdal Sure To Retain Umno VP Post

Ahmad Zahid and Shafie retain Umno VP post, Hishammuddin still lagging

All the president's men - (from left) Shafie Apdal and Ahmad Zahid have retained their vice-president position while Hishammuddin is still in a neck-and-neck race with Mukhriz in the Umno elections today. The Malaysian Insider pic, October 19, 2013.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal have retained their Umno vice-president posts for a second term with both building a commanding lead in the vote count.

Unofficial results from Bernama and from the party’s headquarters in Putra World Trade Centre as of 7.15pm showed that Ahmad Zahid has picked up 110 votes while Shafie has received 100.

Malay daily Berita Harian reported that an elated Ahmad Zahid made the announcement that he has won in his winding-up speech at Umno’s Bagan Datoh division meeting.However, the third incumbent Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein is lagging behind having received only 60 votes so far.

Hishammuddin’s closest contender, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has bagged 51 votes.

The other two challengers, former Malacca chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad, received six and seven votes, respectively.

More than 146,000 members are voting for Umno’s top and division office bearers today.

Some of the divisions voting for Ahmad Zahid were Gerik, Beruas, Paya Besar, Raub, Padang Rengas, Pagoh, Bentong, Tambun, Kampar, Ipoh Barat, Cheras, Tapah, Batu Gajah and Bukit Bendera.

Shafie garnered some of the votes from Raub, Padang Rengas, Pagoh, Bentong, Tambun, Kampar, Ipoh Barat, Tapah and Batu Gajah while Hishammuddin got some of his votes from Pagoh, Bentong, Tapah, Cheras and Bukit Bendera.

The results are expected to be announced as early as 10pm.

Party president Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. - October 19, 2013

MALAYSIAN INSIDER