Najib has 82, Tengku Razaleigh still zero

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 - Despite being confident of snaring enough nominations for a tilt at the Umno presidency, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has yet to get a nomination as frontrunner Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak picked up another 14 yesterday to bring his total to 82.

The 14 divisions that met yesterday however split their nominations for the party's No. 2 post with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin getting another eight nominations to bring his total to 54. He has already qualified to contest after getting the minimum 39 nominations.

His closest contender Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam picked up another four nominations for a total of 17. The only other contender is Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib with 11 nominations. Pulai Umno chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed dropped out of the race today.

In the vice-presidency contest, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin are the only candidates qualified to contest. Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamil Albar, who has 16 nominations, is closing in as he just needs another four to be eligible.

The party elections are slated for next March although several Umno leaders have grumbled about the long campaigning period.

The party supreme council will meet this Oct 30 and Najib had said the party elections dates could be discussed although party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is firm about the March date.

-TMI