PEKAN: The eldest son of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Datuk Nizar Mohd Najib, has been elected as the new Pekan Umno division vice-chief during the party polls at the Umno building here yesterday.
Earlier, Nizar's brother Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib , emerged as the youngest Umno division chief in Langkawi.
The Peramu Jaya assemblyman, who is also the Pahang Investment, Industries, Science, Technology and Innovation committee chairman defeated Asmayudin Uyub, who previously served as the Pekan Umno youth information chief.
Nizar, who was previously the Pekan Umno youth chief, walked away with a thumping victory after he garnered 769 votes against Asmayudin's 89 votes.
The biggest upset was the race for the Pekan Umno division top post when its deputy chief and early favourites Datuk Seri Zamri Ramly lost to state executive council member Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Arif.
Fakhruddin secured 449 votes while Zamri garnered 335. Zamri has been the caretaker of the division after Najib, who held the post since 1982, was ordered to serve his jail sentence in August last year.
In the contest for the Pekan Umno division chief posts, Chini assemblyman Mohd Shahrim Md Zain lost to Datuk Ahmad Rahimi Samad, who previously served as the Pekan Umno treasurer.
Meanwhile, incumbent Raub Umno division chief Datuk Abd Aziz Mat Kiram retained the seat after defeating former six term Dong assemblyman Datuk Seri Shaharuddin Ab Moin, who was attempting to make a comeback after serving as the Raub Umno chief between 1995 and 2018.
In Maran, Datuk Seri Shahaniza Shamsuddin, who created history after becoming the first woman to become Umno division chief in Pahang in 2018, retained the top post after securing 509 votes against newcomer Datuk Khadri Musa.
Paya Besar member of parliament Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah, who lost the race for the national Umno Youth chief post on March 11, caused an upset when he defeated incumbent Paya Besar Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Tajuddin Sulaiman.