Kedah Puteri Umno pro-tem head Suraya Yaacob has claimed that an "invisible hand" has been influencing nominations for the wing's new office bearers, who will be elected in September when the party holds its postponed general assembly.

Suraya ( photo ), who intends to contest the top post in the wing, has received 26 nominations as at yesterday, and is trailing current pro-tem deputy chief Noraini Ahmad who has secured more than 100 nominations.

While Noraini ( photo ) has received broad support from divisions across the country, Suraya's nominations have come mainly from divisions in Kedah and Negri Sembilan.

Contacted by malaysiakini , Suraya said: "There has been a lot of influence from an invisible hand. I think a lot of delegates are not really making their own choice. Of course, this we will have to see when everyone votes in September.

"I wish it were different with Puteri, seeing that we're meant to represent the new generation we wish to build. I wish I could say that the delegates are free to make their own choice, but personally, I think it is very difficult to do so in an open nomination system."

'Not much freedom'

The party system, according to Suraya, does not favour underdogs.

"A lot of people think (the nomination process) is laissez-faire. I wish I could say that, but I really can't," she said, alleging that individuals are being pressured to toe the line, rather than being allowed to vote according to conscience.

"There is still a lot of work to be done before we reach that (greater freedom to nominate)."

The process toward party elections has seen competition being limited for the two top posts, ostensibly for the sake of providing a stabile political platform for acting president and premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ( left ) and his acting deputy Najib Abdul Rajak ( right ).

Contests are likely to be seen only for the posts of Puteri Umno chief and her deputy, and the Umno vice presidents.

Calls for Noraini to be made head of the Puteri wing had been heard several weeks prior to divisional meetings during which nominations had to be submitted.

Pro-tem Puteri Umno Johor chief Haliza Abdullah, for example, had said all divisions in the state would back Noraini.