Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (pic) will be challenging Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the PPBM president post.― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

PETALING JAYA, March 16 — Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir will be throwing down the gauntlet to incumbent Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the position of president in the party’s upcoming elections.

The party’s election committee chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar told a press conference today that there are no contenders for the party’s chairman post whose incumbent is Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“For the president’s position, the candidates are incumbent Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, current deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and (Cheras Bersatu deputy chief) Mohd Faiz Azlee Sham.

“For the deputy president post there are three candidates — secretary general Datuk Marzuki Yahya, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faisal Azumu and Anas Akashah Nazri (Ampang youth chief),” said Syed Hamid.

Apparently, Marzuki was nominated by Mukhriz and seconded by Dr Mahathir himself, while Mukhriz was nominated by his brother Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir and seconded by Marzuki.

The contest for the post of vice-president sees a whopping 15-cornered fight for the three available party positions.

The nominated candidates are: incumbent Abdul Rashid Rahman, incumbent Abdul Rashid Asari, Sallehudin Amiruddin, Mohd Nizam Md Noh, Erwan Mohd, Mohd Shahni Ismail, Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof, Mohd Sabri Mohamad, Mohd Radzi Md Jidin, Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen, Adhif Shan Abdullah, Ranizal Basiran, Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, Sabirin Jaafar and Mazlan Bujang.

The party’s permanent chairman post will see a four-cornered fight between incumbent Datuk Seri Shariff Omar and challengers Suhaimi Mohd Ghazali, Yacob Atan and Mohd Suhaimi Abdulla.

The deputy permanent chairman position will see nine candidates battling it out. The candidates fighting for the position are: Muhammad Najib Azimy, Azman Jaacob, Mohd Azrien Mohd Sal, Khairuddin Esa, Zulkifli Abdullah, Hashim Suboh, Anuar Mohd Tajuddin, Sobri Ahmad and Shaharizal Othman.

The Armada youth wing chief will see incumbent Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman being challenged by his former deputy Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal and Mohd Muzammil Ismail.

The wing’s deputy position sees a contest between Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir, Muhamad Syafiq A Aziz, Anas Akashah Nazri, Ceaser Mandela Malakun and Adam Asmuni.

Its Srikandi women’s wing will see incumbent Datuk Seri Rina Harun defending her position from three challengers: Azlina Mehtab Mohd Ishaq, Izza Ismail and Zuhuraina Makmur.

The women’s deputy will be a six corner contest between Datuk Mas Ermiyati Samsudin, Datin Sharifah Salmah Syed Agil, Saarah Ali Bashah, Ruzita Mohd Hashim, Norliza Ngadiran and Najwah Halimah Ab Alim.