Unexpected results: A man taking a photo of the results of the Umno polls at the party’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Several young leaders have taken over as Umno division chiefs in a fiercely contested party polls that saw a good number of incumbents being unseated.
This new group of leaders are in their early 40s at the most, and their successful takeover of the divisional leadership is regarded as a drastic change in the 77-year-old party.
The stars must have aligned for Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, who won the Jasin Umno division chief post in a fight against three others who are way more senior than him.
The win has earned the 35-year-old the title of the youngest division chief for the 2023/2026 term.
Just last week, he won handsomely in the Umno Youth chief race in a four-cornered fight.
Dr Muhamad Akmal attributed his win in the divisional race to a new wave in the party grassroots that wants to see the leadership ability of the young.
“This is the beginning. Umno grassroots wants changes,” he said.
Several other young leaders have also taken over the division chief posts from their seniors, including Datuk Rais Yasin (Tangga Batu), Datuk Lassim Burhan (Sri Gading), Fairul Nizam Roslan (Alor Gajah), Mohd Hariri Mohd Nor (Pasir Mas) and Mohd Sollehin Mohd Tajie (Bukit Gantang).
Datuk Nazifuddin Najib, 39, is the newly-minted Langkawi Umno chief, defeating former division chief Nor Saidi Nayan.
It was a successful outing for Nazifuddin after having lost the contest for the national level vice-youth chief post last week.
“It is now time for us to work together, not just as a team but as family,” he said in a Facebook post.
Nazifuddin is not the only child of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who took part and won in the Umno polls.
Najib’s eldest child, Datuk Mohamad Nizar, won the No.2 post in Pekan.
The two brothers joined their sister, Nooryana Najwa, who made it to the Puteri exco for the Lembah Pantai division, to be included in their respective divisional leadership line-up.
This party polls also saw a good number of divisions having their chiefs unseated.
Pahang’s Paya Lebar division got a new young boss after former deputy finance minister Datuk Shahar Abdullah, 42, won the top post against incumbent Datuk Ahmad Tajuddin Sulaiman.
One of the upsets was in Pontian where former Johor mentri besar Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad – once state Umno’s “poster boy” – lost his post as division chief.
The 63-year old, who had helmed the division for 23 years, lost to his deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
The contest for division chiefs in Ledang, Muar and Tanjung Piai also saw the incumbents defeated.
In Kedah, new leaders will head the divisions in Kubang Pasu, Kuala Kedah and Sik while in Pahang, those in Pekan, Bentong, Temerloh and Jerantut also see new chiefs.
Of the 13 Umno divisions in the Federal Territories, six have new bosses.
Tengku Datuk Azman Tengku Zainol Abidin, 53, who won the Bukit Bintang top post, is among the notable wins in Federal Territories, defeating his long-time boss Datuk Zainal Rafique.
Also joining the ranks of division chiefs is Tengku Datuk Zuhri Tengku Abdul Aziz. The brother of Kota Raja Umno chief and International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul won in Lembah Pantai.
The four women heading their respective divisions successfully retained their posts.
They are Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Pengerang), Datuk Seri Shahaniza Shamsuddin (Maran), Datuk Shahanim Yusoff (Sungai Petani) and Datuk Suraya Yaacob (Pendang).
