KUANTAN: Pekan Umno division deputy chief Datuk Seri Zamri Ramly will be vying for the division's top post in the upcoming party election.

Zamri has been the caretaker of the division after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who held the post since 1982, was ordered to serve his jail sentence in August last year.

On Aug 23, the Federal Court upheld the conviction and prison sentence of 12 years and a fine of RM210 million against Najib, who was found guilty of misappropriating SRC International Sdn Bhd funds amounting to RM42 million.

Zamri, who edged the current Pekan member of parliament Datuk Seri Sh Mohamed Fuzi Sh Ali in a straight fight for the division deputy chief post in 2018, confirmed that he was vying for the Pekan Umno division chief post.

"These are challenging times for the party and with my experience, I hope to help Umno recruit more young members under the Pemuda and Puteri youth wings.

"Pekan Umno did not perform well in terms of securing votes during the recent general election so we have to put in a lot of efforts," he said when contacted.

Zamri, who did not contest during the general election last year, hinted that Najib's eldest son, Datuk Nizar Mohd Najib, who is currently the Pekan Umno Youth division chief and Peramu Jaya assemblyman, might contest the division's deputy or vice-chief post.

Meanwhile, sources said the top positions at several Umno divisions across Pahang is expected to see contest especially after some of the division chiefs last during the 15th General Election last year.

"Some might win unopposed including Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail (Cameron Highlands), Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad (Lipis) and former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Bera). There will be competition for the chairmen's posts in Raub, Rompin, Indera Mahkota and Kuantan.

"Some have openly voiced their intention to contest while some are still adopting the wait and see approach. Some division chiefs might want to defend their positions but the division members or branches might have other ideas to bring in a new face....anything can happen in the next few weeks," he said.

On Jan 31, Maran Umno division chief Datuk Seri Shahaniza Shamsuddin, who became the first woman elected to head a party division in Pahang in 2018, expressed her intention to not only defend the division top post but also contest one of the 25 seats in the party's supreme council.

Umno's party elections began yesterday to March 18.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/02/875807/pekan-umno-caretaker-set-fill-najibs-shoes-division-polls