Sources say Umno may see contest for No 2 post
For the first time in more than a decade, Umno is facing a possible contest for the party's deputy president post in the triennial party election next year.
Sources told malaysiakini the possibility cannot be ruled out as no decision was made at last week's Umno general assembly on top leadership nominations.
"Apparently, there is a general consensus that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be elected as party president when Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigns next year, but nothing has been said regarding the deputy president's post.
"As such, most party workers presume that the three vice-presidents Najib Abdul Razak, Muhyiddin Yassin and Muhammad Muhd Taib would be contesting for the deputy president's post next year," said one of the sources.
Though, the three have publicly expressed their support for Abdullah as Mahathir's successor, none has indicated the possibility of compromise for the deputy president's post.
However, party polls which is scheduled for June next year could be postponed until after the general elections, which must be held before November 2004.
Three years ago, party polls was put off for 12 months to avoid internal jostling for posts ahead of the 1999 general elections.
The Umno constitution allows the party to postpone elections for 18 months.
Last contest in 1987
The last contest for the top two party posts was in 1987 when Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah challenged Mahathir for the president's post, and incumbent Musa Hitam faced Ghafar Baba for the deputy president's post.
Both Mahathir and Ghafar won with a paper-thin majority. Since then, the party supreme council decided to bar any contest for the top two posts.
The unaccustomed prospect of an election for the post of deputy president last seen in 1990 has created anxiety among party members
However, the first indication of a contest will come from the party's divisions next year via nominations for the deputy president's post.
"Abdullah can appoint an acting deputy president, probably from the three vice-presidents. If there is no other nomination during the divisional meetings, then the appointment will be endorsed by the party general assembly.
"But if there are nominations, then even Abdullah has to oblige the members' decision to have a contest for the post of deputy president," said one of the sources.
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