Sanusi Junid's son to go for Khairy's UMNO Youth post

Akhramsyah Sanusi, the son of UMNO veteran Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, has announced that he would challenge Khairy Jamaluddin for the UMNO Youth chief post in the elections next month.

The 39-year-old mechanical engineering graduate confirmed his decision, according to reports in both online sites The Star and New Straits Times.

Akhramsyah is a member of Umno Bendang Baru branch in Langkawi. Yesterday, he had posted on his personal blog 'thoughtsintangents.blogspot.com' that the rumours that he will be facing-off with Khairy, who is also the Youth and Sports Minister, is true.

In his blog, Akhramsyah said he decided to offer himself for the post as he wished to serve the party and to restore the UMNO Youth's glory days based on honesty and unity principles to implement the Malay agenda.

"I am offering an UMNO Youth leadership which reflect the aspiration of the UMNO Youth members and the Malay community at large, and not my personal agenda," he said in the posting.

Khairy, the son-in-law of former UMNO president and the fifth Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Rembau member of Parliament, had announced recently that he will defend the post.

In the 2009 party polls, Khairy won after obtaining 304 votes in a three-way fight with Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (254 votes) and former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo (232 votes).