The Umno elections today saw some surprises with several divisional big names being ousted after they failed to defend their positions.

Kuala Nerus Umno chief incumbent Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, who is also former Terengganu menteri besar, lost to his vice-chief, Apli Yusof.

Malacca Umno liaison committee chairperson Idris Haron also failed to defend his position as Tangga Batu Umno chief.

The former Malacca chief minister, who held the post for two terms, only garnered 151 votes in the contest with the division’s committee member, Mohamad Ali Mohamad, who secured 353 votes.

Meanwhile, Pahang Umno liaison committee chairperson Adnan Yaakob was retained as Bentong Umno chief after he obtained 296 votes against Shamsuddin Moner, who received 51 votes.

Some of the contests involved state Umno leaders, with some retaining their seats.

Negeri Sembilan Umno liaison committee chairperson Mohamad Hasan defended his post as Rembau Umno head after defeating challenger Rais Zainuddin, a former state exco in the party election today.

Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin retained his post as Rembau Umno division deputy head after winning it uncontested.

In Johor, four Umno division heads retained their posts after defeating their contenders, namely Johor Umno liaison committee chairperson Mohamed Khaled Nordin (Pasir Gudang), Nur Jazlan Mohamed (Pulai); Shahrir Abdul Samad (Johor Bahru), and Mohd Puad Zarkashi (Batu Pahat).

In Pahang, the election for the post of Maran Umno head saw a surprise when Kuala Sentul state assemblyperson Shahaniza Shamsuddin defeated the incumbent, Maran MP Ismail Muttalib, making her the first Wanita Umno division head to win in the state.

Meanwhile, in Perlis, Arau MP Shahidan Kassim retained his post as Arau head after defeating his challenger Mohd Khalid Ahmad who is also the political secretary of the Perlis menteri besar.

Menteri Besar Azlan Man also retained his seat as Kangar Umno head which he has held since 2013, after he defeated his challenger Azahar Ahmad.

Secretary of Perlis Umno liaison body Zahidi Zainul Abidin defended his post as Padang Besar Umno division head which he held since 2008, when he won by a narrow margin of 10 votes over his contender Khairul Akhbar Ahmad Zabidi.

Also interesting was the election for Sungai Besar division Umno head, where the incumbent Jamal Md Yunos who is being hunted by the police retained his post even though he was not present at the party’s annual meeting.

He obtained 347 votes, beating his challenger Masloro Abdullah, the former secretary of the division, who obtained 240 votes.

The Magistrate’s Court had issued a warrant of arrest for Jamal for failing to appear in court during the mention of the case where he is charged with smashing beer bottles at the front gate of the Selangor state secretary building here last year.