Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman has a very good chance of winning the vice-president post in the upcoming Umno elections, according to Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

NONEWhen asked today if he supported the call for the Sabah chief minister to contest for the vice-presidency, Abdul Rahman (second from left, in photo) said should Musa do so, he would be in a good position because of the strength of Sabah Umno.

“He (Musa) has not officially announced he will go for the vice-presidency, (but) certainly the more the merrier and I think that if he did indeed go for it, then I think he has a very good chance at winning.

“Considering, no disrespect to the other states, but Sabah Umno Sabah is one of the strongest Umno state (divisions) around for the time being.”

Everyone has a right to contest

Abdul Rahman went on to add that without any contest at the vice-presidency level, Umno may cease to seem relevant.

“Obviously for the president and deputy president (posts) we would like to see things preserved, but I think the people would like to see some kind of contest at the vice-presidency level.

“Because if you don’t have contest, even at the vice-presidency level, then I am afraid that Umno might not seem relevant to its members or the people at large,” he said.

Asked to respond the call by Pulai Umno division deputy chief Tengku Hamid Aminurrashid for cabinet members not to contest for positions in the Umno supreme council so as to provide opportunities for rising leaders, Abdul Rahman dismissed the idea as “not right”.

“Really (there is such a call)? Too late, because unfortunately I have already offered myself (to contest).

“I am one of those people that feel everyone has a right (to contest), let the people decide. I think that the members of Umno are a smart bunch of people,” he added.