PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has said that he will not be retiring from politics yet as he won the fight for the the Bera Umno Division chief uncontested and he is still the Bera MP.
Speaking to The Star, the former Umno vice-president said that he will continue serving his constituents in various capacities, although he would not be defending the post in the ongoing party polls.
ALSO READ: Umno polls: Ismail Sabri only contesting for Bera chief, unlikely to go for VP post
"I have won the Bera Umno division chief post uncontested. However, I have decided not to defend the Umno VP post," said Ismail Sabri.
"As I am still the Bera MP, I will continue to serve my constituents and that does not allow me to quit politics for good yet," he added.
He was asked to comment on a recent news report which quoted sources saying that he was "retiring from politics" as it was "implied" by his decision not to defend his Umno vice president post.
The news report was later corrected and apologised to Ismail for incorrectly stating that the former prime minister was retiring from politics.
ALSO READ: Ismail Sabri refutes Umno suspension rumours
The Umno nomination for the party polls closed on Sunday (Feb 26).
There were initially eight candidates in the ring who had filed their papers to contest the three vice-president posts, but Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has since pulled out on Monday (Feb 27).
The current contenders for the post range from ministers to former ministers and state chief ministers, a statement of the importance of the highest post being contested in the polls.
In the list are incumbents Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, as well as Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad and Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
Umno is in the midst of its internal elections for the 191 divisions and 22,000 branches, including the divisions that were suspended.
The party’s new office bearers will be elected from Feb 1 to March 18, but the top two positions of president and deputy president will not be contested this time around.
In May last year, Umno amended its constitution to allow party polls to be held within six months after the conclusion of the 15th General Election.
Umno had postponed its party elections for 18 months after the 2018/2021 term ended on June 30, 2021, which meant party polls for the 2021/2023 term should have been held before Dec 30 last year. However, the polls were postponed.
