Bernama photo.
KUALA LUMPUR: Incumbents Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein retained their vice president posts for the 2013-2016 term in the 2013 Umno polls.
The trio received a new mandate from the 146,000-odd voting delegates to be “right arm” of president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in leading the party which is the backbone of the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Umno elections committee chairman Tan Sri Tajol Rosli Ghazali who announced the results for the vice-president posts at around 1.40 am, said Ahmad Zahid obtained the highest votes at 185, followed by Mohd Shafie 174 and Hishammuddin 100.
Their victories put paid to the challenge mounted three aspirants namely Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir who obtained 91 votes while Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad only secured seven votes each.
The highlight of the race was the stiff fight between Hishammuddin and Mukhriz who had everyone on the edge of their seats as the results from the 191 divisions streamed in.
Tajol Rosli said although there was tie in the votes for Hishammuddin and Mukhriz in several divisions, no recount was done in view of the wide difference in the overall margin.
“Hishammuddin obtained 100 votes while Mukhriz received 91 votes. It is a nine-vote margin, thus not justifying a recount or re-election.
“If the margin is three votes and below, only then will a re-election be held,” he said.
Tajol Rosli explained that Hishammuddin and Mukhriz received the same number of votes in three divisions namely Keningau, Semporna and Baling.
Ahmad Zahid, 60, who was born on Jan 4 1953, in Kampung Sungai Nipah Darat, Rungkup, Bagan Datoh, Perak, is currently the Home Minsiter.
He won the vice president post for the first time in the 2009 polls after having served two terms in Umno’s Supreme Council from 2000-2003 and 2004-2007.
Mohd Shafie, 56, is the first Umno leader from Sabah to be elected vice president, also in the 2009 polls.
He is currently Rural and Regional Development Minister.
Hishammuddin, who is Defence Minister and three-term MP for Sembrong, retained his seat as had been predicted.
Known to be an ‘IT savvy’ minister, Hishammuddin is also holding the post of Acting Transport Minister.
Tajol also announced that Datuk Mohamad Aziz retained his post as Umno deputy permanent chairman after defeating two challengers, Datuk Abd Rahman Palil and Ahmad Fariz Abdullah.
Mohamad received 158 votes, Abd Rahman 25 votes while Fariz did not obtain a single vote.
Meanwhile, Umno executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh said the full results of the polls would be announced at 5pm Sunday.- BERNAMA