KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s polling results for its heads of Youth, Wanita, and Puteri wings have been unofficially determined yesterday evening, said the party’s elections committee chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad.
Confirming earlier reports, Shahrir announced that both Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad and Datuk Norliza Abdul Rahim will continue leading Wanita as chief and vice-chief, respectively.
He added that Datuk Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi will helm the Puteri wing as its chief, while Siti Sokhleha Nordin is its newly appointed vice-chief.
For the party’s Youth wing, Shahrir said Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh remains ahead of other contestants and that the incoming votes cannot change his position.
However, Shahrir could not confirm the vice-chief post for the party’s Youth wing, following a neck-to-neck competition between candidates Hairi Md Shah and Ikmal Hazlan Ikmal Hisham.
Shahrir said the battle for the position was very intense, with only six votes separating Hairi Mad Shah who obtained 85 votes, and Ikmal Hazlan Ikmal Hisham who had 79 votes as of 8pm.
“The result could change as there are eight more divisions (that have yet to send their results),” he said at a press conference at party headquarters, as quoted by Umno Online.
He added that an official announcement for the party wings’ leadership positions will be made once all votes have been received.
Although results for the party’s 2023-2026 term have yet to be made, several members who secured posts have already conceded or declared victory.
Dr Masliha Harun, who ran for Puteri chief position, congratulated her rival Nurul Amal, and hoped the party wing will thrive under her leadership.
She also congratulated former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s daughter Nooryana Najwa for her executive council position in the party’s Puteri wing.
She also revealed that Nooryana will be her successor as the Lembah Pantai Puteri Umno division chief.
“Take care of the Puteri sisters excellently from now on, okay,” Masliha said in a Facebook post.
Puteri vice-chief Siti Sokhleha Nordin also shared her thoughts and sentiments following her appointment.
“This position is a heavy responsibility to bear, but with the support of all Puteri members and the extended Umno family, I believe that nothing is impossible for us,” she said.
“Let’s move forward together and build a better future for Umno. May Allah have mercy on all of our efforts,” she added.
Umno’s elections yesterday saw about 164,000 delegates casting their votes to determine the positions in the party wings.
A total of 189 out of 191 divisions held wing conferences in their respective divisions, following the suspension of the Tanah Merah and Kota Kinabalu divisions.
Elections for Umno’s supreme council and executive council positions will be held nationwide on March 18. – The Vibes, March 13, 2023
