Muhyiddin (centre) chairs the first meeting of the Economic Action Council (EAC) at the Prime Minister’s Office. — Bernama photo
PETALING JAYA: Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who is defending his post in the party’s inaugural election next month, will be challenged by two other candidates including his deputy Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir.
Meanwhile, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad won uncontested for the chairman post, said the party’s election committee chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar yesterday.
Syed Hamid said another candidate for the presidency is Cheras Bersatu deputy chief Mohd Faiz Azlee Sham.
He said for the deputy president post, it would see a three-corner fight involving the party secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya, Perak Bersatu chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and Selangor Armada deputy chief Anas Akashah Nazri. Speaking at a news conference here, Syed Hamid said the contesting candidates were given between 10am to 3pm yesterday to submit their nomination papers.
“Everything went well. The nomination papers of all contestants have been received,” said Syed Hamid at the end of the nomination registration yesterday.
A total of 15 people vying for three vice-president seats, among them are incumbent Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, Information chief who is also Minister of Education Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin, Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof and Melaka Exco Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen.
For Armada chief, Syed Hamid said it would be a three-corner fight between incumbent Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Armada Exco Muhammad Muzzammil Ismail and Armada International Relations Bureau chairman Senator Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal who is also Youth and Sports deputy minister.
Meanwhile, four candidates are eyeing the Srikandi chief post including incumbent Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun who is being challenged by Information deputy chief Izza Ismail, Kepala Batas Bersatu chief Azlina Mehtab Mohd Ishaq and Kuala Langat Srikandi chief Zuhuraina Makmur. Syed Hamid also reminded candidates not to use their positions and money to win votes.
“If the disciplinary board receives concrete evidence of vote-buying, the person could lose his or her post,” he said, adding that they could also be suspended or sacked from the party.
Meanwhile, Syed Hamid said all branch and division meetings which also involve the election for the party’s top posts could be postponed following a directive from the Registrar of Societies that all gatherings involving a large crowd to be put on hold.
“The party leadership will decide on that,” he said.
It was previously reported that Bersatu division meetings were to be held simultaneously nationwide on April 18 while Armada dan Srikandi division meetings were scheduled for April 11 where they would choose their national-level leaders. — Bernama