LIGHT MOMENT: Hishammuddin (centre) shakes hand with Umno members during the meeting. — Bernama photo
KUANTAN: Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein described the six-cornered fight for the vice-president posts at the upcoming party election next month as not something unique or extraordinary.
He said the matter also did not surprise him as he had already heard of talk of others challenging him when he indicated his intention to defend his post.
“The challenge this time is not something unique as I have heard of such talk,” he told reporters after a meeting with 500 Pahang Umno members at the Pahang Foundation Complex here yesterday.
“For me, healthy competition based on the strength of each candidate would in the end make the party stronger.
He also did not deny his cordial relations with the two other incumbent vice-presidents, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, had been an effective combination in the party all this while.
Apart from the three incumbents, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir, Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad and former Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam also filed their nominations to contest the vice-president posts on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the MP for Bera Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he was not surprised that he was being challenged by his former political secretary, Datuk Azizan Che Omar for the Bera Umno division head post in the party election.
Ismail, who has been the division chief since, 2004 said he believed the fight could have been due to the challenger’s service being stopped.
The Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister was speaking to reporters after meeting with Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein. — Bernama