KUALA LUMPUR – A total of 140 Umno division chiefs yesterday expressed solidarity for the president position, currently held by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, not to be contested in the Umno elections expected to be held in May.
Representing the group, Wangsa Maju Umno division chief Datuk Seri Mohd Shafei Abdullah said the division heads also agreed that the deputy president’s post should not be contested.
He said Umno’s current focus should be on strengthening the party to face the six state elections expected to be held this year.
“A total of 126 Umno division chiefs were present, although another 14 were absent as they were attending the 2022 Umno general assembly. All have agreed that the positions (president and deputy president) should not be contested.
“In order to face six more state elections this year, we need a strong Umno. So we hope the president (Zahid) will take this view into account and that no top positions will be contested,” he said during a press conference here last night.
Yesterday, the meeting of the 126 division chiefs was held behind closed doors at a prominent hotel in the capital.
The 2022 Umno general assembly, which is scheduled to take place from yesterday until Saturday at the World Trade Centre here, kicked off with the inauguration of the general assemblies of the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings by the party’s deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. – Bernama, January 12, 2023
