SHAH ALAM: Umno Information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib has joined the growing number of leaders eyeing one of the party’s three vice-presidents’ posts.

Muhammad, who is the Kelana Jaya division chief, joined former Perlis menteri besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and supreme council member Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal who have announced they were keen to be nominated.

 Several others, including Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed have also said they were keen.

The two incumbents, International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam have not announced their plans.

 Muhammad, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, was elected a vice-president in 1993, successfully seeking re-election in 1996 and 2000. In 2004, he lost out when he came in fourth.
Muhammad said yesterday, he welcomed the many contenders for the post as members would have a better pool to choose from.

Asked whether he was confident of his chances, he said: “With the party’s support, and God willing, I will win.”

Umno permanent chairman Tan Sri Onn Ismail announced that he and deputy permanent chairman Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin would seek re-election to the posts.

In Johor Baru, the Kampung Desa Jaya branch passed a motion for party vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to be nominated to contest the party’s number one post.

Kampung Desa Jaya Umno branch chief Abdul Muhamad Talib Ngah said the motion will be brought to notice at the Johor Baru Umno division meeting which will be chaired by its chief Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad in October.

“It is high time that a leader from Johor gets to be the Umno president, and for this, I have received encouraging support from other branches within the Johor Baru division,” he said.