Tuaran Umno was the latest to endorse the beleaguered deputy prime minister as critics continue to assail him with the latest allegations of impropiety in a military helicopter contract and possible abuse of power in Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu's murder investigations.
The 55-year-old Umno blueblood needs 58 nominations to be eligible to contest the presidency, once held by his father Tun Abduk Razak Hussein and his uncle Tun Hussein Onn. The other declared contender Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has yet to receive any nominations.
"The presidency and premiership look like a poisoned chalice for Najib," an Umno leader told The Malaysian Insider, referring to the widely-held belief that Najib will succeed Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in both posts next March.
In the race for the Umno No 2 post, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also received the Tuaran division's nomination bringing his tally to 24. Of the three other declared candidates, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam has three nominations, Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhamad Taib has two while Pulai Umno chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed has yet to secure any nominations.
The contest for the party's three vice-presidents' slot has 11 contenders but only four have gone past 10 nominations with outgoing Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein getting 25, which is above the minimum of 20 nominations. Former Umno Youth chief Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has 15, Sabah Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has 14 while Higher Education Minister Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin has 10.
Another Umno blueblood, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, is leading the Umno Youth chief race with 40 nominations. His nearest contender is Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin with 20 while former Selangor Umno chief Datuk Seri Khir Toyo has only 12 and Zahidi Zainul Abidin with one. The qualifying mark is 39 nominations.
Umno Wanita chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, who said she will not contest the post if there are contenders, has received 52 nominations to 12 for her deputy Datuk Seri Sharizat Jalil. Both Rafidah and Sharizat have agreed to to a power transition pact slated for June 2009, before the party decided to move the polls to next March.
Umno's 191 divisions are scheduled to meet between Oct 9 and Nov 9 for elections and to provide nominations for the top party posts. Party officials said 41 divisions are slated to meet this week with the conferences mainly on Friday and Saturday.
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