Umno presidential candidate Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi casts his vote during the Umno delegates meeting in Bagan Datuk June 30, 2018. — Picture by Farhan Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Acting president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has taken an early lead in the Umno presidential election today as initial results from divisions nationwide started streaming in at 3pm.

According to the Twitter account set up by the party for their internal election, Zahid has been picked as the choice for president by 21 divisions so far as of 4.15pm.

Former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin is not far behind with 17 votes, while party veteran Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has only six votes so far.

The three of them are considered main contenders in a five corner battle for Umno presidency.

The winner will need to secure the majority of the 191 Umno divisions voting today.

Meanwhile, former Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan is leading Tan Sri Annuar Musa in the deputy president race, garnering seven votes so far compared to Annuar's five.

The vice president race is proving to be a closely fought one with seven candidates vying for three posts.

Johor Umno chief Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin is so far in the lead with four votes, followed by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani with three votes each.

Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid have two votes each.