Najib has a strong team

Najib’s favourite candidates take top posts to form a strong team

ALL the president’s men have garnered the top posts in the Umno elections.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is the new Umno deputy president and the three vice-presidents are Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Muhyiddin, 61, who is the International Trade and Industry Minister, was Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s choice from the beginning.

He defeated party information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib after securing 1,575 votes to his rival’s 938.

Muhammad, 63, was perceived as outgoing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s loyalist.

For the three vice-president posts, Ahmad Zahid obtained 1,592 votes, Hishammuddin 1,515 and Shafie 1,445.

Ahmad Zahid, 55, is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department. He had last year announced his intention to contest for the deputy president’s post, but settled for the vice-presidency on the advice of Najib.

Hishammuddin, 47, who had relinquished his post as head of Umno Youth to contest for the vice-presidency, had been viewed as the favourite candidate after securing the highest number of nominations last November. The Education Minister is also Najib’s cousin.

Shafie, 51, is the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister from Sabah. It had been said that the three new vice-presidents were the candidates favoured by Najib to complement his leadership.

Najib had envisioned the new party line-up as leaders who are capable, credible, loyal and acceptable by all Malaysians.

Four Mentris Besar and two Cabinet ministers were defeated in the contest for the 25-seat supreme council.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said lost their seats.

The Mentris Besar were Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman from Johor, Datuk Mohamad Hasan (Negri Sembilan), Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob (Pahang) and Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu (Perlis).

Only Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman won.

However, the president would usually appoint the Mentris Besar to the supreme council.

Sabah candidates made a strong showing in the vice-president, supreme council and Puteri contests.