SEVEN candidates are running for the three Umno vice-presidencies in controversial party elections. 

One of the incumbents, Ismail Sabri Yaakob has declined to defend his post on the grounds that the March 18 polls are illegal. This is after party members voted in the Umno general assembly to allow the president and his deputy to return uncontested.

The two other incumbents are Mahdzir Khalid and Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who will be defending their positions.

Here is the list of the seven vice-presidential candidates:

Mahdzir Khalid

In the 2018 Umno elections, Mahdzir finished second behind Ismail Sabri, trailing by almost 22,000 votes. Mahdzir won in 125 divisions and Ismail, 183 divisions.

This is the second time Mahdzir, 62, is running for the position.

After nominations closed last Sunday, Mahdzir also remained unchallenged as the party’s Padang Terap chief. He is also the only division leader who won without contesting in Kedah when 14 other divisions will witness the competition including four corners in four divisions.

Mahdzir is one of the senior Umno leaders who failed to defend his seat in the general election (GE15). The former rural development minister in Ismail Sabri’s administration lost the Padang Terap parliamentary seat to Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Nurul Amin Hamid of PAS by almost 11,000 votes.

Mohamed Khaled Nordin

Khaled, 64, is also running for the second time. In the 2018 Umno elections, he won in 88 divisions, three more than his closest competitor, Johari Abdul Ghani.

Khaled currently holds the position of Johor Umno liaison chairman.

He replaced former Johor mentri besar Hasni Mohamad who was one of the casualties of a massive purge of more than 40 party members, including former youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin, in January.

Khaled was among the six section leaders in Johor who won unopposed after nominations closed last Sunday. He has led Pasir Gudang Umno since 2004.

Hasni Mohamad

Hasni, 63, is the Simpang Renggam MP. He is also defending his position as the head of Pontian Umno. He faces his deputy Ahmad Maslan, who is the party secretary-general.

Hasni has led Umno’s Pontian division since 2011 while Ahmad has been his deputy since 2008.

Azalina Othman Said

Azalina is the only cabinet member among the candidates.

She is also the first woman candidate. Azalina, 59, was previously a member of the Umno Supreme Council.

Reezal Merican Naina Merican

Reezal Merican, 50, is a member of the Umno Supreme Council.

He is the youngest-ever vice-presidency candidate.

Johari Abdul Ghani

The 58-year-old businessman made a comeback in the Titiwangsa parliamentary constituency after losing the contest to Bersatu’s Rina Harun in the 2018 general election.

This is the second time Johari is trying for the third-highest position in Umno. He finished fourth in the race in the last elections

Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail

Wan Rosdy is the Pahang menteri besar. – March 1, 2023.