KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth deputy head Khairy Jamaluddin said he would increase his efforts to convince the movement's members to nominate him as their new head.

Khairy said he accepted the delegates' decision made in the divisional meetings so far but believed that he still had a good chance of making it through.

"Insya'Allah (God willing), I believe that I can get the minimum nominations required to enable me to contest the post.

"There is still a long way to go as the division meetings only end next month," he said at the Puteri Umno's Hari Raya open house at the Putra World Trade Centre.

When asked why he has received fewer nominations when he was touted as the favourite candidate prior to the divisional meetings, Khairy said: "Maybe, at this point, I am considered the underdog.
"I have to step up my efforts to convince the grassroots to nominate me. I am confident of getting their support."

Of the 73 Umno Youth divisions which have concluded their meetings so far, the movement's executive council member, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, has qualified to contest the post after he obtained 40 nominations.

Khairy has secured 20 nominations while the other two possible contenders, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Khir Toyo and Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, have 12 and one respectively.

To contest the post, one must receive at least 39 nominations. There are a total of 191 Umno Youth divisions.