Khir, Mukhriz to contest Umno Youth chief

Khir Toyo wants to head Umno Youth

SHAH ALAM: Former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo confirmed that he would be contesting for the Umno Youth chief position at the party elections in December.
Dr Mohd Khir, who spoke to reporters at the Selangor Umno headquarters on Friday, said he decided to contest for the position after receiving encouraging feedback from the party’s youth members.
“I have gathered feedback on whether I was viable to contest for the position and what I received was very good,” he added.
He said there would be no change in his decision to contest if he continued to receive positive feedback.
Dr Mohd Khir also added that the vast experience gained during his tenure as mentri besar and Barisan Nasional (BN) state chief was an added asset for him to lead the youth wing.
“I will be able to give the Umno youth movement a new dimension with my experiences,” said Dr Mohd Khir.
To a question if he would be obtaining the party leadership’s blessing as endorsement, Dr Mohd Khir said that anyone could contest for the post, as it was a vacated position.
When asked if he would come to an "agreement" with any other candidates vying for the same position, Dr Mohd Khir said: “I will not compromise with any other candidate as this is an open competition in which anyone can contest.”
Besides Dr Mohd Khir, Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has also indicated his interest in contesting for the position.
Responding to a question if the Selangor BN’s bleak performance in the recent general election would hinder him from winning the position, Dr Mohd Khir said the state’s Umno candidates had not fared badly at all.
He said Umno had won 18 seats in the state but had lost Selangor due to national issues such as problems related to economic distribution and inter-religious affairs, among others.
Mukhriz to contest too
Meanwhile, Mukhriz, who is son of ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad, said he decided to contest the post after receiving positive feedback from the party grassroots.
It is now left to see if Hishammuddin’s deputy Khairy Jamaluddin, who is embattled Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son-in-law, will also be standing for the top post.
Both Mukhriz and Khairy are first-time parliamentarians winning in Jerlun (Kedah) and Rembau (Negri Sembilan) respectively, while Khir retained his Selangor state seat of Sungai Panjang in last month's general election.
Khir however resigned as state party chief after Selangor which he had led for eight years as mentri besar fell to the opposition. Nevertheless, he has assumed the position of state opposition leader.

tunku : so now we have mukhriz and khir toyo.i am sure kj wants it too or will he put his choice of candidate to contest???? let us see.