Ahmad Maslan thanks Ismail Sabri for contributions as Umno veep

KUALA LUMPUR – Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan today offered his appreciation to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for his contributions and thanked him for his services as party vice-president.

Ismail Sabri, who was the prime minister before the 15th general election, had announced that he would not be defending his Umno vice-president post during the party elections which are scheduled for March.

“I believe he (Ismail Sabri) made a big decision... maybe he made the decision to not contest for the post because he has already reached the pinnacle of his political career by becoming the prime minister. There is nothing higher than that post on the political stage,” he said during a press conference at Parliament’s lobby today.

Earlier, Ismail Sabri confirmed that he would not be contesting for the post which he has held since 2018.

Ismail Sabri is among three current vice-presidents, including former rural and regional development minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and current Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Elections for Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings will be held on March 11, while the elections for Umno division committees, vice-presidents, and Supreme Council members are scheduled for March 18.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Maslan also reiterated that he would not be contesting for the post of Umno vice-president to give a better chance to other candidates from Johor.

He said the decision was made to avoid a split in the votes among delegates during the election for the post of vice-president, since there are already three candidates from the state in the contest.

“I will not be contesting for the post of vice-president although there have been suggestions for me to do so. At least one candidate from Johor must win... I do not want to add on to the list of candidates from Johor and in the end, nobody wins due to a split in the votes,” he said.

Ahmad Maslan, who is also the Pontian MP, said he would be defending his post as Umno Supreme Council member and will challenge former Johor menteri besar Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad for the post of Pontian division chairman in the upcoming party polls. – Bernama, February 28, 2023