ALOR STAR: The overall Umno election in 15 divisions in Kedah yesterday went smoothly, except for recounting in the Sik division and a minor technical hiccup in the Merbok division.
State Umno secretary Datuk Ariffin Man said the official results for division committee polls in all 15 divisions were officially announced by the respective division's election committee between yesterday evening and early this morning.
"The last division to announce the official result was Sik, nearly 3am today as the recounting was done almost three times because of a one-vote majority for the division chief post," he told a press conference at the state Umno headquarters here today.
Ariffin said Khizri had pulled 229 votes, while incumbent division chief Datuk Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah garnered 228 votes.
The other two candidates, former Sik member of parliament Dr Mansor Abdul Rahman and former Jeneri assemblyman Mahadzir Abdul Hamid secured six and 43 votes, respectively.
"The voting and vote counting process was done in a proper manner, and at the end, Datuk Muhamad Khizri Abu Kassim was officially announced as the new division chief with one vote majority," he said.
On the issue at Merbok division polls, Ariffin said there was a complaint over the duplication of ballot papers for the division chief's post.
"It turned out that two ballot papers for the division chief post were accidentally attached together in a set of ballot papers.
"As such, the division's election committee decided that it was a minor technical issue and proceeded to declare the winner based on a valid 11-majority vote.
"The candidate who lost may file his complaint to the party later if he is not satisfied with the official result," he said.
Ariffin said Umno Information chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin was declared the winner after pulling 253 against incumbent division chief Annuar Ahmad, who garnered 242 votes.
It is learnt that Annuar is contemplating filing an objection over the result.
Ariffin said besides Khizry and Shaiful, the other new division chief elected in the party election yesterday was former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's son, Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Mohd Najib who won the Langkawi division chief post by a 12-vote majority.
"The other two new faces in the division chief lineup are Datuk Aminuddin Omar in Kubang Pasu and Datuk Muthalib Harun in Kuala Kedah.
"Former Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah made a comeback after winning the Alor Star Umno division chief post," he said.
Former Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid retained his Padang Terap division chief post unopposed.
Ariffin said eight division chiefs retained their post after defeating their contenders in the polls.
In Jerai, state Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom retained his position after surviving a four-cornered battle.
The other seven incumbents who edged their opponents to retain their division chief post were Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Rahim (Baling); Datuk Suraya Yaacob (Pendang); Datuk Othman Aziz (Jerlun); Datuk Said Ali Syed Rastan (Pokok Sena), Datuk Muhar Hussain (Kulim-Bandar Baharu), Datuk Shahanim Yusof (Sungai Petani) and Datuk Asmadi Abu Talib (Padang Serai).
Some 15,000 delegates in Kedah's 15 divisions cast their vote in the party polls yesterday.
They were among the 190,000 delegates nationwide eligible to elect Umno division committees, the vice-presidents and supreme council members for the 2023-2026 term.
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