PWTC packed with Umno election aspirants

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin were among the leaders to submit their forms early when Umno central election nomination counters opened today.

They presented their nomination forms to defend the president and deputy president posts respectively through their representatives at Umno headquarters at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here at 8am.

Najib's nomination forms were submitted by his political secretary, Datuk Khairun Aseh while Muhyiddin was represented by his political secretary Datuk Mohd Nardin Awang at the fifth floor of PWTC.

Najib and Muhyiddin were attending the Malaysian Armed Forces mammoth 80th anniversary parade at Dataran Merdeka, here this morning.

Aspiring contestants and representatives came as early as 7am to collect their queue numbers and as at 11am, the submission of nomination forms proceeded smoothly.

The submission of nomination forms at PWTC was for those contesting for posts in the Supreme Council and the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings at central level.

"Their leadership is best described in a Malay proverb 'like the bamboo and the bank'. It is an ideal combination," said Khairun.

The three incumbent vice-presidents Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal also submitted their nomination forms through their respective representatives to defend their posts.

Also seen was Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad who arrived at about 9.55am to submit his nomination form for the vice-president post.

Wanita chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was also seen at 8.15am to send in her nomination form to defend her post.

Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin too submitted his nomination form to defend his post through his representative Rizuan Ahamad.

"Their leadership is best described in a Malay proverb 'like the bamboo and the bank'. It is an ideal combination," said Khairun.

The three incumbent vice-presidents Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal also submitted their nomination forms through their respective representatives to defend their posts.

Also seen was Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad who arrived at about 9.55am to submit his nomination form for the vice-president post.

Wanita chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was also seen at 8.15am to send in her nomination form to defend her post.

Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin too submitted his nomination form to defend his post through his representative Rizuan Ahamad.

Also submitting her nomination form was Raihan Sulaiman Palestin who will be contesting for the central Umno Wanita chief post.

As at 9.30am, there were 33 nomination forms for central wanita exco posts and 59 for the central youth exco posts.

New face Ermiyanti Shamsuddin who is the Masjid Tanah MP submitted her forms to contest for the central Umno Puteri chief post.

Another new face, Johor Baharu Umno Puteri chief Azura Mohd Afandi who would be contesting for the Puteri exco post, said her decision to contest was to assist the Puteri wing champion the interests of young women in the country.

"I will ensure the Puteri wing continues to get new blood to continue its struggles," said Azura who was the first person to be registered as a Puteri candidate today.

Apart from that, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Moktar Radin were also among those who came early to submit their forms.

Information and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek also sent in his nomination forms through his political secretary Mohd Ali Mansor to defend his Supreme Council seat at 8.40am.

Several other Supreme Council members who were defending their posts included Datuk Abdul Latif Ahmad, Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, Datuk Mahdzir Khalid, while new face Datuk Sohaimi Shahadan also submitted his nomination forms for a MT seat.

Among the surprises at 10am was Pandan Youth division assistant secretary Syed Rosli Syed Harman Jamalluail who submitted his nomination forms to contest for Youth chief post.

Earlier, two other Youth chief contenders who would be challenging Khairy were the son of former Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi and former Merbok division Youth chief, Karim Ali.

Permanent chairman Tan Sri Badruddin Amiruldin and his deputy Datuk Mohamad Aziz sent in their nomination forms together to defend their posts.

According to Umno executive secretary Datuk Mohd Rauf Yusoh, as at 10am, 161 nomination forms had been received including 49 for the Supreme Council, Wanita (37), Youth (48) and Puteri (27).