It’s time for Umno to introduce young candidates, says leader

KUALA LUMPUR: Several Umno leaders have agreed with the proposal to nominate a young candidate for the upcoming by-election for the Mahkota State Assembly seat.

Umno Supreme Council (MKT) member Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin stated that putting forward young candidates will present a positive image to the public.

“If we want to present a positive image to the people, it’s time to promote the younger generation,” he said during the Umno General Assembly (PAU) 2024.

He emphasized that Umno should avoid listing candidates aged 60 and above.

According to him, providing younger candidates with the opportunity to contest elections will offer them valuable experience for future responsibilities in managing states or the nation.

“I myself contested at the age of 37 and gained experience from it. Zahid (Umno President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) contested at 42, and Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (Umno Vice President) contested at 28,” he said.

He made these comments in response to a request from Umno Youth for the Mahkota State Assembly seat, which will be contested in the by-election on September 28, to be allocated to their wing.

Umno Youth Chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh used the PAU 2024 platform to express this request during his keynote address.

Akmal stated that Umno Youth is ready to take on this responsibility if entrusted, following their successful performance in the Nenggiri State Assembly by-election.

Meanwhile, another MKT member, Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, also agreed that a young candidate should be nominated for the Mahkota by-election.

He based his view on the current climate following the victory in the Nenggiri by-election.

“From the Nenggiri campaign, I believe the candidate must be young. That’s the current mood. However, the young candidate must have a clean record,” he said.

Nevertheless, Puad noted that the decision regarding whether the candidate should come from the youth or women’s wing is up to the president and Umno’s state liaison chairman.

“So, I leave it to their discretion,” he added.

Last Saturday, Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate, was announced as the winner of the Nenggiri by-election, defeating Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Mohd Rizwadi Ismail and reclaiming the seat.