UMNO vice-president Mahdzir Khalid has retained his Padang Terap division chief position for the 2023-2026 term. 

Kedah Umno liaison secretary Ariffin Man said there was no contest for the post, making it the only party division in Kedah that did not see a contest for the top spot. 

He said 36 contestants will be vying for chief positions in Kedah’s remaining 14 party divisions – five of them former divisional heads who are making a comeback – in the party polls scheduled for March. 

The five are Abdul Rahman Ariffin (Jerlun), Mohd Johari Baharom (Kubang Pasu), Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah (Alor Setar), Abdul Rahim Saad (Sungai Petani), and Abdul Rahman Mahamud (Padang Serai), Ariffin told a media conference in Alor Setar today. 

Ariffin said Kedah Umno liaison chairman Jamil Khir Baharom will defend his post as the party’s Jerai division leader in a four-cornered fight. 

He said 34 candidates will vie for the state’s 15 divisional deputy posts while 36 candidates are eyeing the divisional vice-chief posts. 

There will be 16 candidates contesting the divisional Wanita Umno head posts, 18 for the divisional youth chief posts, and 15 for the divisional Puteri head posts, he said.

He said four divisional deputy posts – Pokok Sena, Alor Setar, Baling and Padang Terap – were won uncontested, while the Pokok Sena and Alor Setar division vice-chief posts were also uncontested. 

Wanita head positions were won uncontested in nine divisions – Langkawi, Alor Setar, Pendang, Jerai, Sik, Merbok, Sungai Petani, Baling and Padang Serai, while youth chief posts won uncontested were in the Padang Terap, Alor Setar, Pendang, Jerai, Baling and Padang Serai divisions. 

The posts of Puteri heads in seven divisions were uncontested, namely, Padang Terap, Pokok Sena, Pendang, Jerai, Sik, Baling and Padang Serai. 

About 40% of the candidates vying for the leadership posts are new faces, Ariffin said. – Bernama, February 27, 2023.