Khairy Jamaluddin is likely to secure his Umno Youth chief candidacy this weekend, but perhaps not today. With 37 in the bag, he requires two more nods for his name to appear in the ballot sheet at the youth wing’s election next March.
Of the four divisions meeting today, Kedah’s Kubang Pasu is out of play - as Mukhriz Mahathir has swept his state up to this point. More so Kubang Pasu was his father’s division - where Dr Mahathir Mohamad was seven-term parliamentarian.
In play are two Terengganu divisions - Hulu Terengganu and Marang - and Sabah’s Penampang. All three contestants - the third candidate Selangor opposition leader Dr Khir Toyo - have won in both states, therefore other than Mukhriz pushing his tally up to 63 thanks to Kubang Pasu, nothing else is certain.
Dr Khir is - after winning Gua Musang yesterday - on 28 nominations, still 11 short. For the former Selangor mentri besar, it will be a more challenging weekend, even if his popularity is high with many in the party.
Of the areas bordering Penampang, Khairy has taken Putatan and Keningau, while Mukhriz has Tuaran. Khir’s previous gains are the physically vast Kinabatangan and Beluran which are on the eastern end of the state. The vote will end up between the two frontrunners.
The results in Terengganu so far have also been divided among the three candidates. The Marang vote will be interesting to look at, although Khir’s win in Dungun may give him a flicker of hope in Marang.
Hulu Terengganu - the other seat - is an interior seat and traditional ideas of the party coupled with religious credentials may have a say in the result. Khir’s language and values base will come in handy here. The reasonable money would be for Mukhriz to win two today, and Khir and Khairy taking one each.
Tomorrow: Saturday has to pan out well for Khir, and his eyes will be on Sabak Bernam, Petaling Jaya Utara and sizeable Sipitang - an interior Sabah seat.
It will be interesting to see how Pekan - the deputy prime minister’s family seat - rates Khairy when they vote. With Najib Abdul Razak almost certain to assume the prime ministership in March, the finance minister’s view of Khairy - as he would let his supporters know his preference - would factor into the voting.
Khairy elsewhere would be banking on the three Perak - Parit, Tambun and Lumut - meetings, but if he reaches the minimum by midday Saturday so much pressure would be off his shoulders, for now.
Sunday: Only half a dozen meetings, but if Saturday does not reward Khir enough then this will be an important day for his campaign.
Selangor’s Pandan should give him comfort, and perhaps with the addition of Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur. Another nomination from the either one of the Johor divisions of Ayer Hitam and Segamat would be most welcome.Khairy would have had his candidacy sealed by now, however Balik Pulau from Penang looks like his brightest
Throughout the weekend, Mukhriz can afford to be quietly confident and let the momentum of the last few weeks carry him through. He does need to overcook his campaign right now - malaysiakini.com
It seems its a no win for Malaysia either way, we have to choose between Mahathir's bid to return to power, the Son In Law puportedly controlling the fourth floor, and the one that spread allegations against Teresa Kok.
Also, if the Najib, Muhyiddin and Mukhriz nominations don't convince you that Mahathir's bid to come back to Putrajaya is not complete, I don't know what will.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment