Umno has finally announced Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki as the new Youth chief after delays due to disputes.
The announcement was made by Umno executive secretary Ab Rauf Yusoh at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Ab Rauf also confirmed that Shahril Sufian Hamdan is the new Umno Youth vice chief.
At noon, The Umno information bureau, through the Pemilihan Umno 2018 Twitter account, had announced Asyraf as the winner but backtracked by evening, stating that the results had to be put on hold due to disputes in 25 Umno divisions.
[Penerangan]
— Pemilihan UMNO 2018 (@PemilihanUMNO18) June 24, 2018
Keputusan undi daripada 25 bahagian tidak boleh disahkan kerana aduan telah dibuat oleh anggota-anggota bahagian tersebut. Penerangan lanjut akan diberi di dalam satu sidang akhbar tidak lama lagi.#PemilihanUMNO2018
Asyraf had prepared to hold a press conference to claim victory at 5pm today but this was delayed to 7pm and yet again until Rauf held his press conference at around 9.30pm.
Earlier, Asyraf's closest rival Khairul Azwan Harun had conceded defeat after the Umno information bureau announced Asyraf as the winner at around noon.
According to the Umno election system, if the majority of delegates in a division votes for a particular candidate, then the candidate would be deemed to have won the division and will earn one vote.
At the press conference to formally name the winner, Ab Rauf also announced that Parit Sulong MP Noraini Ahmad will become the new Wanita Umno chief while her vice-chief will be Norliza Abdul Rahim.
As for Puteri chief, Zahida Zarik Khan won comfortably while her vice-chief will be Nurul Amal Mohamad Fauzi.
The list of the new chiefs and their vice-chiefs is as follows:
Umno Youth chief: Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki
Umno vice-chief: Shahril Sufian Hamdan
Wanita Umno chief: Noraini Ahmad
Wanita Umno vice-chief: Norliza Abdul Rahim
Puteri Umno chief: Zahida Zarik Khan
Puteri Umno vice-chief: Nurul Amal Mohamad Fauzi
When asked about the delays, Rauf explained that these were due to some divisions being late in data entry.
In a separate press conference later, Asyraf, Shahril and Noraini pledged to shed the party's "elite" image.
"After we form our exco line-up we will travel to all divisions. We won't stay at hotels.
"We will stay at the home of the branch and village chiefs. We will listen to the voices of the youth," said Asyraf.
He said he also planned to engage with his defeated rivals to see if their manifesto can be incorporated for implementation by Umno Youth.
He also promised to do away with the culture of factionalism.
Meanwhile, former Umno president Najib Abdul Razak congratulated the newly-elected leaders of the party wings.
The former prime minister also hoped the new leaders would carry out their responsibilities well, reported Bernama.
“Congratulations to the Umno wings and those who were elected to the posts. May they carry out their responsibilities well,” Najib said in his Twitter account tonight.
