Khairy Jamaluddin is new Youth chief

Khairy Jamaluddin has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by winning the much-coveted Umno Youth chief tonight.

He bagged 304 votes and won with a majority 50 against Mohd Khir Toyo (254) and Mukhriz Mahathir (232).

In a battle touted to be between the scions of top two political families, the son-in-law of outgoing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has beaten Mukhriz Mahathir, son of former premier Mahathir.

Mukhriz could be seen being consoled by his supporters, while Khairy emerged jubilant where he was hugged by well-wishers.

While Mukhriz sportingly went on stage to congratulate Khairy after the official announcement was made, Khir Toyo was missing.

Khairy jumped across the barrier in the podium to greet Mukhriz and both of them hugged before raising their hands together.

In his first press conference as the Youth chief, Khairy called for the wing to close ranks.

"We made history today where democracy has been genuinely practised. This reflects the maturity of our movement," he said.

He said that he was humbled by the results as he won less than 40 percent of the votes from the 791 Youth delegates.

"It was a fierce three-cornered fight. What is most important is not the contest but for members of the wing to close ranks," he said, referring to the three-way split in the votes.

He also said that the victory was made sweeter as many of his detractors had written off his chances of victory.

"They said I was finished (after the general election last year). They said that without the backing of the prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is his father-in-law), I am gone.

"To those who said I am finished, I say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you," he said, flashing a smile.

Mukhriz accepts decision, but supporters cry foul

Mukhriz, whose father Dr Mahathir had been a fierce critic of Khairy, meanwhile said that he accepted the delegates' decision with an open heart.

"The Pemuda wing should now be united and I think I can still contribute some little things," he added.

Mukhriz said that he would continue with his political struggle.

The contest for the Umno Youth chief post was close enough for a recount of votes following objections raised by the candidates.

This resulted in a two-hour delay to the announcement of the results.

Khairy had to overcome the stigma of being investigated by the party's disciplinary committee for alleged money politics to bounce back in winning this post, which is usually the stepping stone for top party leadership.

The disciplinary committee had found Khairy guilty of being involved in money politics through his agent but he was let off with a warning due to a ‘weak link' between him and the agent.

And in the run-up to the polls, Khairy also faced the additional problem where he found an unsavoury book on him being distributed to all Umno Youth delegates nationwide.

The Rembau member of parliament subsequently lodged a police report against the author for publishing lies about him, which he said were "recycled" from the Internet.

In the wake of the announcement, a group of about 200 Mukhriz supporters held an impromtu rally at about 11.30pm to protest against the surprise election results.

"Khairy, rasuah (corruption)," they shouted, venting their frustration.

They were later joined by about 200 Khairy supporters and both sides began taunting each other.

As the crowd grew unruly, police were called in to form a human barrier to keep the two groups apart.

However at 12.20am, both groups were eventually dispersed by the police and the situation returned to normal.

A reform-minded deputy

Khairy will be replacing Hishammuddin Hussein as the wing's leader. In the last party polls in 2004, Khairy won the deputy chief post uncontested.

At 33, Khairy is perhaps the youngest Youth chief in Umno's long history.

Hishammuddin meanwhile is contesting to be a vice-president but a man from his camp, Razali Ibrahim, was today voted in as the Youth wing's new deputy chief.

Razali got 417 votes to defeat Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who is seen to be a Khairy's loyalist. Razali is the Muar MP and is widely known to be a reformist young leader.

He is expected to form a firm partnership with Khairy.

And for Khairy, his victory tonight has breathed new life into his political career, but it could spell the end for Khir Toyo, who lost Selangor in the last general elections - a state which he led as menteri besar.

According to earlier information gleaned from inside the assembly halls, the lead changed hands several times among the three contestants.

Colourful campaigning

Earlier in the morning, the last-minute campaigning for elections had raised the temperature at the Umno headquarters located at Putra World Trade Centre.

Supporters of the respective candidates were spotted mingling in the crowd of delegates, doing some final canvassing.

However, the 'bidding' campaign for the position of Umno Youth chief was seen to be more 'aggressive' than the contest in the other wings.

Hardcore supporters of the three candidates had assembled at Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, the venue for the Youth wing's assembly, singing ‘Inilah Barisan Kita' and ‘Allah Selamatkan Kamu' in large groups.

They were also calling out names of their respective candidates - KJ (for Khairy), Khir Toyo, and Mukhriz. The posters of Khir with the slogan ‘Pemuda Berani' dominated the area.

Supporters of the candidates also wore T-shirts with the candidate's candidacy number, picture and name.

On the other side, supporters of candidates for the Wanita and Puteri wing appeared to be much more at ease with their quiet campaigns.

They were distributing cards with the names and number of their candidates to the masses, including the delegates and media.

A total of 796 Wanita delegates, 791 Youth delegates, 789 Puteri delegates will determine the fate of the candidates in the race for top leadership posts as well as seats in the executive council of their respective wings.

59th Umno AGM programme

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