KUALA LUMPUR: Umno today unveiled its new Wanita, Youth and Puteri chiefs for the 2018 - 2021 term following its nationwide party elections.
Parit Sulong Member of Parliament Datuk Noraini Ahmad was elected as Wanita chief; ex-Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki is its new Youth chief while Datuk Zahida Zarik Khan is the new Puteri chief.
Asyraf Wajdi, 42, defeated three contenders, who are Shahar Abdullah, Senator Khairul Azwan Harun, and Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos.
For the Wanita post, Noraini, 50, beat Wanita vice-chief Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun, 63, and one-time Wanita Umno chief, Tan Sri Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman, 69.
Zahida, 39, who is former Puteri Umno vice-chief, defeated Nor Hazreena Mohamad Hashim, who was also a Puteri exco member.
As for the deputies posts, the Umno Youth number two position was won by Kuala Langat Umno Youth chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan, 32, who swept aside challenges from Zahrudin Yahya, Shariquq Adam Das, Razali Tushan, Abdul Halim Sidek Ghulam Hassan, Ridzuan Hashim Baki, Safhwan Matusin and Fariz Hadi.
Penang Umno’s Datuk Norliza Rahim meanwhile, beat Datuk Rosni Zahari, Endang Kusma Mohamed and Masdiana Salleh.
The Puteri Umno vice-chief post was won by Nurul Amal Muhamad Fauzi.
The posts of Wanita permanent chairman, Youth permanent chairman and Puteri permanent chairman went to Sharifah Aminah, Mohd Hafiz Che Mat and Norain Abd Rahman, respectively.
The announcements were made by Umno executive secretary Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh at Menara Dato Onn on at 9.10pm on Sunday.
The announcement was initially expected to be made at 5pm. However, a lengthy delay saw the press conference only being held four hours later.
Rauf said the delay was due to the divisions’ failure to send the results on time.
“They keyed in the results a bit late so the headquarters had to finalise the results," he said.
The outcome of the race for the various posts in Umno is determined by who garners the support of most Umno divisions.
There are 191 Umno divisions nationwide.
Acting Umno president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, had earlier in the day paid tribute to the open format of the elections for party divisions and its three wings nationwide, saying it was a testament to it practicing the “mother of all democracies.”
The format, he said, showed that Umno is now more open, democratic and inclusive, which allowed over 165,000 delegates to cast their votes.
Meanwhile, Noraini thanked former Wanita Umno head Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for giving way to the new leaders.
She said her first move is to reduce the gap among Wanira members.
She also paid tribute to Shahrizat, saying that Wanita’s owes its strengtht to Shahrizat’s legacy.
“Thanks to her, Wanita is strong and we will continue the legacy to make an impact,” she said.
She said Wanita plans to restore the people’s faith in Barisan Nasional through a variety of programmes that will be implemented.
Meanwhile, Asyraf Wajdi said he plans to implement five agendas to reinvigorate Umno Youth.
The first, he said, was to recruit the right talent.
“We need to build the right talent, build more leaders. We don’t just want one KJ (Khairy Jamaluddin), we want 10 and even 100 leaders.
“The second is training. We need precise training programmes that cater for Umno so that the youths understand our party’s aspirations and history so they will not waiver from the party’s goals,” he said.
The third and fourth agendas, he said, are building a culture of knowledge as well as going back to basics to strengthen its members spirituality.
“The final agenda is identity. Without a strong identity, we will be swallowed up by time,” he said.
He said Umno needs introspection in order to identify where it went wrong; only then will it be able to change and regain the people’s respect again.
Meanwhile, Senator Khairul Azwan Harun, who was among the candidates for the Youth chief post,
congratulated Asyraf Wajdi and pledged his cooperation to help Umno.
Via a Facebook post, he said Umno has a responsibility to become an opposition with authority and offer the best alternative for the people.
Khairul Azwan said he would not resign and would continue as a senator at Dewan Negara until the end of his term.
“I will do my best to become a fair Dewan Negara member and to support any laws that are relevant as well as to be critical when the laws are not suitable for Malaysians.
“Regardless of the parties that you support, we now fight for Malaysia to be more successful,” he said.
Since Saturday morning, delegates from 191 Umno divisions began voting for their new wing leaders.
The most anticipated election result involving new party president, deputy president, chairman, deputy chairman and supreme council members would be decided on June 30.
Those who would be contesting for the Umno presidency are Gua Musang MP Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah; outgoing Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin; party vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi; Bandar Tun Razak committee member Mohamed Iqbal Maricair; and Iskandar Puteri member Mohd Yusof Musa @ Jamaluddin.
As for the deputy president post, former Negeri Sembilan MB Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan would be facing Umno Information Chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
Umno is in the midst of choosing its new leadership after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak stepped down as party president and Barisan Nasional chairman following the devastating loss suffered by the coalition in the recent May 9 general election.
Report by MOHD ANWAR PATHO ROHMAN, MOHD NOOR ASWAD, ARFA YUNUS and FAHMY AZRIL ROSLI
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