Setiawangsa Umno Youth division delegates showed up in droves of motorcycles to cast their votes in the wings' elections at the divisional and national levels today.

They arrived as early as 8am in high spirit to register themselves along with Wanita and Puteri delegates for the wings' divisional meeting before casting their votes under the new voting system that gives the power to 146,500 delegates from 191 divisions to choose their leaders.

Setapak Jaya Umno Youth delegate Mohd Fadly Mohamed Ariff said he was excited about voting for the time for the Setiawangsa division and national level Youth leaders along with 300 members from the division.

"This proves democracy thrives in Umno," he said on the sidelines of the Setiawangsa Umno Youth division delegates' meeting today.

Setiawangsa Umno division chief Zulhasnan Rafique attributed the enthusiastic spirit shown by first-time voters and old guards from the three wings to reforms in the election system engineered by party president Najib Razak.

Results out later tonight

The delegates' meeting of the three wings started at 11am before it was proceeded by elections, he said, adding that the divisional level results would be known tonight while that of the national level would be conveyed to the Umno Supreme Council.

Seventy-year-old Hawa Hassan, a delegate from the Wanita Umno Pondok Pakalongan branch in the Titiwangsa division, said she was happy that many members offered themselves as candidates and with the introduction process instituted.

"What is important we want not only leaders who can work, but also those who are amenable to the people - those who will show up when invited," she said on the sidelines of the Titiwangsa Wanita Umno division delegates' meeting at Raintree Residence, Pandan Jaya.

- Bernama