Former Puteri Umno chief Azalina Othman Said described herself as an underdog in facing incumbent Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

The Pengerang MP told Berita Harian that she sees her chances as 30:70 as the incumbent has the  advantage.

“The incumbent has the advantage as normally in Umno elections, the incumbent is unlikely to lose,” said Azalina.

Meanwhile, the daily also reports that 12 out of 14 Kelantan Umno divisions would see contests in the state, while two divisions, namely Ketereh headed by Annuar Musa and Jeli helmed by Mustapa Mohamed, will not see a contest.

Former Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who has been the Gua Musang party division chief since 1962, is said to face a contest from the division’s Youth wing leader, Bazlan Baharuddin.

NONE Prior to this, Tengku Razaleigh ( left ) or better known as Ku Li had indicated that he may not defend the post of division chief to make way for new leaders. However, the division was reported to have asked him to stand again for the post.

Ku Li has been division chief since 1962. He had later left Umno and rejoined the party, and had headed the division again since 1996.

Rantau Panjang would see incumbent Abdullah Mat Yasim possibly facing a three-way contest from his deputy Shaari Mat Hussain and former division chief Mohd Zain Ismail.

Similarly in Machang, incumbent Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub will be challenged by former Machang MP Sazmi Miah.

Pasir Mas division chief Hanafi Mamat may see his deputy Johan Che Pa, who was the party candidate in the last general election, contest against him. Johan withdrew from contesting in the last GE and had been barred from the party in contesting in any GE or by-election for the next 15 years.

 

Pasir Puteh may pit incumbent Zawawi Othman, who will face former division chief Kamaruddin Mohd Noor, while Tanah Merah may see former Kelantan Umno information chief Supardi Md Noor challenging incumbent Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz.