The race to lead Umno Youth is set to be a predictable affair unless incumbent Khairy Jamaluddin throws his four challengers a bone with a “blunder” in the run up to next week’s election, said political observers. Although Bendang Baru Umno Youth chief Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi has emerged as a credible contender in the crowded race, Professor Dr Jayum Jawan of Universiti Putra Malaysia saw the youth and sports minister strolling across the finishing line. “I don’t think it will be tight race unless Khairy makes a mistake leading up to the election; [if he] makes a blunder, then it could be a tight race,” Jayum told The Malay Mail Online yesterday. Akhramsyah, the leading underdog in the contest, is trying to make an impact with his “Hidup Melayu” slogan in a bid to rally the movement’s grassroots members on his side. He is also believed to have the backing of party members loyal to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. “I think he is young, he has some idea in the process transforming Umno, he might be the one that will fit the bill although he himself does not have ability or vision in how to transform the Youth and how the Youth can play role in Umno,” the professor said of the son of the former Umno secretary-general and former agriculture minister Tan Sri Sanusi Junid. “There is not a lot to back [Akhramsyah] to unseat Khairy.” Separately, a senior Umno leader, who declined to be named, agreed with Jayum when contacted by The Malay Mail Online and said he was “right on the dot” that Khairy should have no trouble keeping the post. Despite the rosy outlook for his campaign, Khairy will not find himself entirely bereft of obstacles from now until next Saturday. Khairy and his brand of centrist and progressive politics is seen as the face of change within Umno, but this is often at odds with the conservative side of the party with which the “Hidup Melayu” slogan resonates. He also carries the black mark of being found guilty of “money politics” during the 2009 contest when he defeated rival Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir to lead the wing, for which he was let off with just a warning. As it is, he has been accused of abusing the resources of the Youth and Sports Ministry, which he heads, for the benefit of his campaign. Denying the allegations from challenger Syed Rosli Syed Harman Jamallulail yesterday, Khairy said it was only coincidental that some youths he met during official ministry events were Umno Youth delegates. “As the Minister of Youth and Sports, I convene meetings with youth leaders on regular basis. Most of them are also Umno Youth members and delegates. “This allegation is not true because I meet with those youth leaders, who coincidently are Umno Youth members and delegates, to discuss current issues, which coincidently revolve around the delegates... so, more or less, I did explained to them about a few things related to the elections,” he told national news agency Bernama yesterday. Others in the running are Pusat Bandar Taman Chempaka Umno Youth assistant secretary Syed Rosli, former Merbok Umno Youth chief Abd Karim Ali and Bukit Setiawangsa Umno Youth chief Irwan Ambak Khalid Izhar. Voting for the Umno Youth election will take place on October 12, together with polling for the Wanita and Puteri wings.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 03:41:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015