Umno VPs willing to withdraw from contesting in 13th general election

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): Three Umno vice-presidents (VPs) today announced their willingness to withdraw from contesting in the next general election if they were to be deemed as unwinnable candidates.

Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein made the announcement at a joint press conference after party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak opened the 2011 Umno General Assembly here.

Hishammuddin said many had asked them whether they were willing to vacate their seats if they were to be deemed as unwinnable candidates and the answer was a unanimous "no problem".

He said this was in line with the party president's policy speech which also called on party members to carry out self-evaluation on whether they were capable of helping the party to win or causing the party to lose in the next general election.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said they also lauded the decision made by Jerteh state assemblyman Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh who was also willing to step aside from contesting and make way for the winnable candidates in the next general election.

"We have received an SMS from Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh saying that he is willing to make way for winnable candidates in the 13th general election and this is indeed a very good example for others," he said.

Ahmad Zahid said if Idris's decision were to be emulated by other elected representatives, it would be easier for the party president to make the final decision.

"The party president may not hold the unwinnable candidates at knife point to ask them to make way for the winnable ones, but we have to carry out self-evaluation. If we cannot ensure victory for the party, then we should back off," he said.

Idris, 56, was elected as Jerteh assemblyman in the 2004 general election and was appointed as the 12th Terengganu Menteri Besar. He retained the seat in the 2008 general election. – Bernama