UMNO Polls: Tun Faisal eligible to contest MT seat

A total of 260 candidates have been confirmed to be eligible to contest for top leadership posts in UMNO at the party's polls on Oct 12 and 19 following the reinstatement of Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz as a candidate for a Supreme Council (MT) seat.

When announcing the final list of candidates at the Putra World Trade Centre here today, UMNO elections committee chairman Tan Sri Tajol Rosli Ghazali said the chairman of UMNO's New Media Unit was allowed to contest after due diligence by the MT and the elections committee.

"According to Clause 9.5 of UMNO's constitution, a member intending to contest for an MT seat must have been a MT member or committee member of a division for at least one term.

"But in this case, he (Tun Faisal) was a candidate chosen by UMNO Youth, and the elections committee is of the opinion that, in accordance to Clause 10.15, the MT can take a decision that serves the best interest of the party," he said.

Tun Faisal was initially deemed ineligible becuase he did not meet criterias required under Clause 9.5.

Tajol Rosli also said a total of 33,012 candidates were confirmed eligible to contest at the divisional level after 334 were rejected on account of bankruptcy, while 495 withdrew and 39 others had disciplinary action taken against them.

"Those not allowed to be present is decided by Clause 8.4 on Rules of Meetings, whereby a person declared bankrupt cannot attend meetings, including cannot be elected, appointed or vote except at the branch level," Tajol Rosli said.

Touching on UMNO Youth's election, Tajol Rosli said 94 candidates were confirmed qualified to contest at the central level while 7,125 at the wing's divisional level.

For Wanita UMNO, 51 candidates at eligible to contest at the central level and 6,758 at the divisions.

For Puteri Umno, 37 candidates can contest at the central level and 4,955 for the divisions.

The three wings polls will be held on Saturday. The results for the central level are expected to be known the next day.

It is the same for the MT polls on Oct 19, the results are expected to be known the next day.