UMNO ELECTIONS 2004: Shock results
By Syed Nadzri

In a night of shock results at the Umno party polls, Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad, a rank outsider, pulled off a major surprise when he polled the most number of votes to become Umno vice-president. Incumbent Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib was the surprise loser in the three-slot vice-presidential race.

Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam came in second on his first attempt for the post, while incumbent, Agriculture Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, squeezed in for the third slot in the seven-cornered fight.

Umno permanent chairman Datuk Seri Onn Ismail announced the results but did not give details of the votes garnered by each candidate.

However, Umno officials said that Muhammad came in fourth with 1170 votes, while Economic Planning Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamad was fifth with 1059 votes.

Isa obtained 1507 votes, Ali 1329 and Muhyiddin 1234 votes.

Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob obtained 690 votes, while veteran Johor politician Datuk Shahrir Samad managed only 492 votes.

The results for the 25-post Supreme Council were another shocker for the night. Half the 20 incumbents vying for re-election lost, including three senior ministers.

But more surprising were the wins by former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik and former ministers Datuk Annuar Musa and Tengku Adnan Mansor.

Information Minister Datuk Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, who has been a Supreme Council member since 1984, lost, as did Home Affairs Minister Datuk Azmi Khalid and Higher Education Minister Datuk Shafie Salleh.

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo, in his debut attempt, stumped pundits by polling the highest votes for the Supreme Council.

All three women candidates — Datuk Shahrizat Jalil, Datuk Dr Norraesah Mohamed and retired Puteri head Datuk Azalina Othman Said — won.

The results were announced at 10.30pm after a prolonged wait, although SMS on the vice-president results were making their rounds from 9pm.

Muhammad’s defeat was as much a surprise as Isa’s victory. Most Umno leaders had expected Muhammad to win while Isa was seen as lagging behind the field even as late as yesterday afternoon.

Isa’s victory comes on his second bid for the post.

There was much anxiety at the Putra World Trade Centre when Onn adjourned the day’s session at 6.30pm and said it would resume at 8.30 the next day. He made no mention of the results.

Rumours abounded as everyone made wild guesses. Unlike the previous elections, there was no clear signal, even till late in the day, as to who were in the lead in the vice-presidential race.

It is understood that campaigning intensified greatly on the eve of voting, turning the form books upside down. And as usual, talk of money politics became rife, some claiming that the money bags and briefcases were out in exceedingly great numbers.

Placards, pickets and creative name cards greeted those who came to the PWTC — certainly one of the most colourful scenes the Umno general assembly had ever seen.

But added to the usual forms and practices were the malicious text messages that came through mobile phones.

It is understood that the hate-messages, many containing very damaging allegations, were sent up to the last minute, even while the delegates were lining up to cast their votes in the ballot boxes. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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