Kampar not picking Ahmad Zahid for veep post

The Star, Monday October 13, 2008

By CHRISTINA KOH

KAMPAR: The Kampar Umno division has gone against Perak Umno’s wish to support Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for a vice-president’s post.

In a show of defiance against the decision made by the state liaison committee at a meeting on Saturday, Kampar Umno division chief Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan said the division was of the view that a vice-president should not be decided according to state lines.

“When it comes to the vice-president, we must look for someone who can help the president and his deputy,” he told reporters after the annual division delegates’ meeting here yesterday.

“Vice-presidents should be chosen carefully because they will be among those who will go on to the esteemed positions of president and deputy president,” he added.

Mohd Radzi, who retained his division chief’s post unopposed, said the vice-presidency would be a “training ground” for those aiming for higher positions in the future.

During the meeting, the Kampar division nominated Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Abdul Samad and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal for the three vice-president posts.

The division nominated Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the number one and two spots, respectively.

On Saturday, Perak Umno chief Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali told reporters in Ipoh that the state committee would back Ahmad Zahid, who is also Bagan Datoh division chief, as a vice-president and leave the other two to the divisions’ discretion.

Mohd Radzi said his main consideration for leaving out Ahmad Zahid was because several Umno leaders from Sabah had recently been displaying good leadership qualities.

KOMEN: Ini bermakna Zahid dapat pencalunan paksa dan bukan sebenar disukai. Yang lain sanggup dipaksa pun sama bodoh.