Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has qualified to stand for election as Umno president, receiving nominations from 59 divisions.
International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin - in the news for suggesting that party polls be shifted back to December - too has made the cut for the deputy presidency.
The 61-year old, who was yesterday sharply criticised by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, tightened his grip on the Umno No 2 post.
Muhyiddin had complained that the campaigning period was being unnecessarily prolonged by the supreme council's decision to postpone party election to March 2009. This had been done to synchronise the annual general assembly cum election with Abdullah's retirement as prime minister.
Muhyiddin drew 44 nominations, increasing his lead over rivals Mohd Ali Rustam, who obtained nine nominations, and Muhd Muhd Taib, who won eight.
Khairy just five shy of qualifying
Despite having already secured the minimum needed for election, Mukhriz continued to build his lead over outgoing Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin and ex-Selangor chief minister Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.
Mukhriz raised his tally to 64 nominations, versus Khairy’s 34 and Khir’s 26.
In the crowded race for the party’s three vice presidencies, Hishammuddin Hussein - the son of third prime minister Hussein Onn - extended his lead to 49 nominations.
Former Youth chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi overtook Sabah Umno deputy with 35 nominations versus the latter's 28.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin, the fourth to qualify for election, raised his tally to 28.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar nudged up to 12 nominations, while Foreign Minister Rais Yatim and former Perlis chief minister Shahidan Kassim were tied at five nominations each.
Late entrant to the VP race, former vice president Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik scalped his first four nominations.
Former minister Annuar Musa, who has said he wants to drop out from the VP race, trailed with just one nomination.
There are now 12 candidates vying for the party's three vice presidencies.
Speculation has swirled there are plans to increase the number of VP posts to five in a bid to better represent and reflect the sharp growth in Umno membership - malaysiakini.com
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