Hishamuddins supporters in a fix over his future
Supporters of Hishamuddin Hussein are in a dilemma on whether to allow him to
contest
for vice- presidency or face the risk of being
challenged
by Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo for his current Youth chief post.
"Should he adhere to the request (not to vie for vice-presidency), there is a possibility that Hishamuddin would face Mohd Khir for the wing's top post in the coming party election," said a source close to the leader today.
Although the menteri besar has promised not to contest as long as Hishamuddin remains as Youth chief, the latter's supporters are nevertheless suspicious.
They are worried that he may be defeated should he vie for vice-presidency but if he doesn't contests, there is also the possibility of Mohd Khir Toyo mounting a challenge for the Youth chief post.
Supporters of Hishamuddin Hussein are in a dilemma on whether to allow him to contest for vice- presidency or face the risk of being challenged by Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo for his current Youth chief post.
"Should he adhere to the request (not to vie for vice-presidency), there is a possibility that Hishamuddin would face Mohd Khir for the wing's top post in the coming party election," said a source close to the leader today.
Although the menteri besar has promised not to contest as long as Hishamuddin remains as Youth chief, the latter's supporters are nevertheless suspicious.
"Though it is only a possibility, we would not want to take that risk. Who knows, your most-trusted friend, could later be your enemy," said the source.
Politically aggressive
He said Mohd Khir - who is also an Umno Youth exco member - had started campaigning for the wing's top post since last year.
"He is known to be a politically aggressive person. Such a character is good when you are dealing with the opposition. But can he control his supporters when a decision has to be made on the Umno Youth matter?" asked the source.
It this aggressiveness that saw Mohd Khir withstand a hail of allegations, including those related to corruption, against him and the Selangor government.
In 2001, writer Ahmad Lufti lodged two complaints with the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) claiming that the menteri besar had committed corruption with regards to the sale of a bungalow lot in Bangi and the approval of several state government projects.
More recently, DAP state assembly representative for Bandar Klang Teng Chang Khim alleged that Mohd Khir had failed to set an exemplary leadership by failing to address issues of cronyism, corruption and nepotism in the state.
The Johor factor
Meanwhile, Hishamuddin's supporters have discouraged him from contesting for vice-presidency since Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman was also rumoured to be eyeing the post.
If this proves to be true, then there will be three Johoreans in the running as Hishamuddin and another vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin are also from the southern state.
According to Hishamuddin's supporters, this three-way contest would put delegates from Johor in a dilemma over who to choose. Furthermore, they said, the other two candidates are far more senior as well.
Hishamuddin has a historical position in the party. His grandfather Onn Jaafar founded Umno in 1946 while his late father Hussein Onn was its fourth president and the country's third prime minister before being replaced by Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1981.
Hishamuddin, who became Youth chief in 2000, is also the cousin of another vice-president and deputy president aspirant Najib Razak, whose father Abdul Razak was the second prime minister and third party president.
Read more of the Umno leadership transition in Analysis Malaysia.
