While Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo is the hot favourite for the Umno Youth chief post, the movement's assistant secretary Zulkifli Alwi is said to be the likely choice for number two.

Pundits have based this o­n the expected move by current chief Hishamuddin Hussein to contest for the party vice-presidency while his deputy Abdul Aziz Sheik Fadzir is rumoured to be eyeing a place in the supreme council.

Party sources said Mohd Khir is considered the most suitable candidate to lead the movement by virtue of his position as a menteri besar and Selangor Umno liaison chief.

The dentist-cum-politician is also Umno Youth's most senior exco member, heading the religious bureau.

By virtue of the post, Mohd Khir, together with the Wanita and Puteri Umno chiefs, would become party vice-presidents.

Umno has six vice-presidents but o­nly three are elected - these are the real powerbrokers who have a shot at the party presidency and subsequently the premiership.

Mohd Khir is also o­ne of the more vocal party leaders who has a reputation of being highly critical of PAS, which is Umno's greatest competitor for Muslim votes.

Key personality

Meanwhile, a party source said Zulkifli is considered a "key personality" in Umno Youth.

As its assistant secretary, the former journalist is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the movement.

"He is considered the best choice for the post due to his proven ability to efficiently handle the Umno Youth administration.

"He is also seen to be able to get along very well with Mohd Khir, Hishamuddin as well as the other Umno Youth excos and state leaders. His views are always sought for whenever problems arise within the movement," he said.

According to the source, Zulkifli was the force behind the successful Aman Malaysia (Peace Malaysia) campaign, of which Hishamuddin is the patron and Mohd Khir organising chairperson.

."They successfully gathered more than 200,000 people at the Bukit Jalil Stadium (for a mass protest against the war o­n Iraq) because they made a very good team," he added.

Furthermore, the source said, o­n the Umno hierarchy, Zulkifli is at the third spot after the president and vice-president.

No obstacles

Although, Hishamuddin and his present deputy Abdul Aziz have not openly declared their next move, there is widespread speculation that they would contest for the vice-presidency and the supreme council respectively.

Pundits do not expect the pair to face any obstacles should they decide to vie for the seats.

Apart from the fact that delegates from Umno Youth make up about 20 percent of the total delegates who vote at the party polls, Mohd Khir as the Selangor Umno chief could also deliver enough votes from the state to push the duo through.

The party source said with such strong support in hand, Hishamuddin and Abdul Aziz could strike a deal with their potential contenders to ensure a victory.

"Another Umno Youth candidate for the supreme council post could be its information chief, Azimi Daim, who is an exceptionally good orator," he added.

Asked wether the choice of Zulkifli for the number two spot would go down well with the movement's exco members, the source said he is a leader who shares a good relationship with the members.