Wednesday May 14, 2008 MYT 3:11:34 PM

Negri MB may go for Umno VP post

By SARBAN SINGH

SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan may contest one of the top positions in Umno during the party election scheduled for December.

Mohamad, who had last month said he had no intentions of contesting the post of vice president, said he was now keeping his options open.

“I think it is good for the people and the party if there are more leaders offering themselves ... as for me, I am keeping my options open,” he said after chairing the state exco meeting at Wisma Negri.

He was asked to comment on statements by Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and former Perlis Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim who had said they may contest the vice presidencies.

Mohamad, who is second term Mentri Besar, said there was nothing wrong with any of these leaders voicing their intentions to contest.

“Umno is a mature party ... we had just celebrated our 62nd anniversary and members know who are good leaders and otherwise.

“If you give them the option to choose from a pool of leaders, they will make the right decision,” said Mohamad who was also Umno supreme council member.

Asked if he was for the abolition of the quota system which required aspirants to obtain a certain number of nominations to contest for the top two posts in the party, Mohamad said there were pros and cons to this.

“The quota system is good because only those who had the support of party members are allowed to contest the top positions. If you have many people contesting for the post of president for example, people would say Umno was a pasar malam (night market) party.

“On the other hand, the quota system may prevent genuine members from contesting ... some may see it as undemocratic,” he said.

However, Mohamad said the present system had been effective in producing good leaders.

He said those who wished to see a proper power transition in Umno would prefer that the quota system be continued.

“However, if there is to be any change, the delegates are the ones who should decide,” he said.