Although it is speculated that Umno Youth chief Hishamuddin Hussein would contest for vice-presidency, his supporters feel that he should be patient.

Malaysiakini

learnt that his supporters are not to keen on seeing him contest and are convinced that he will not fare well.

This is because Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman has also indicated his desire to vie for the post.

Three Johoreans

If this proves to be true, then there will be three Johoreans in the running as Hishamuddin and another vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin are also from the southern state.

According to Hishamuddin's supporters, this three-way contest would put delegates from Johor in a dilemma over who to choose. Furthermore, they said, the other two candidates are far more senior as well.

"It is wiser for Hishamuddin to remain as the Youth chief. By virtue of the post, he is also one of the vice-presidents," said one of them.

Umno has six vice-presidents - three contested and three by virtue of their position as Youth chief, Wanita chief and Puteri Umno chief.

However, it is the elected three who will move up higher to the posts of deputy president and president, which in turn will make them deputy prime minister and prime minister.

The Youth chief's supporters said even if Muhyiddin is selected to be deputy president by incoming president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Johor menteri besar stands a better chance of winning compared to Hishamuddin.

Historical position

Hishamuddin has a historical position in the party. His grandfather Onn Jaafar ( left )founded Umno in 1946 while his late father Hussein Onn was its fourth president and the country's third prime minister before being replaced by Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1981.

Hishamuddin, who became Youth chief in 2000, is also the cousin of another vice-president and deputy president aspirant Najib Razak, whose father Abdul Razak was the second prime minister and third party president.

"Probably he wants to follow his cousin's footsteps. The latter relinquished the Umno Youth chief post to successfully contest for vice-presidency in 1993.

"However, Najib was lucky to contest under the 'vision team' banner headed by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim," said a staunch supporter of Hishamuddin from the Federal Territory division.

Anwar was sacked in 1998 and subsequently jailed on charges of sodomy and corruption. The incarcerated leader claims to be a victim of a political conspiracy but the authorities have dismissed this.

Meanwhile, Hishamuddin's supporters said the present political atmosphere was not favourable for the Youth chief to make his move.

"Many of us feel that the time is not yet appropriate for him to go for the post. If he loses, Umno Youth will also lose a capable leader," they said.

To find out more on Umno's changing of guards, read Analysis Malaysia .