Hishammuddin will not defend youth chief post

PUTRAJAYA: Umno youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein will not defend his post during the party elections in December.

He said he made known his decision early to pave way for those who want to vie for the post later as well as for the betterment of the party and for the wing to move forward.

However, he did not state which post he was vying for. He added that he would wait for the party and delegates to decide if he would move on to higher posts such as the vice-president or deputy president posts.

"If the party wants me to move on, I will; but at the end of the day, it is not for me to decide," he said.

Those whose names had cropped up recently showing interest to lead the youth wing are Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir and Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.

Hishammuddin said he had already planned to let go of the youth chief post a long time ago but did not want to make it public then.

He changed his mind and decided to state his stand after hearing the two men's offer for the post and their intention not to challenge him, he said.

"After being at the helm of the youth wing for 10 years from the time there was a split, I find the youths are still united and hear their call for the new generation to bring transformation to the wing and the party.

"If the wing is in a situation where it does not know my plans in December, that becomes a barrier for us to move forward.

"So it is time for me to give way for new faces to lead the wing in December," he told reporters Thursday after announcing the second report card of the Education Development Masterplan 2006-2010.

Asked if he felt pressured to let go of the post after hearing both Mukhriz and Dr Mohamad Khir's interest, he said he was not denying that he supported Mukhriz.

On whether he wanted to see his deputy Khairy Jamaluddin contesting the chief post, Hishammuddin said it was not for him to say and that he could make decisions for himself only.

On his personal preference for the post, Hishammuddin said he had a personal preference but would keep it a secret as he had only one vote.

Hishammuddin, however, advised those who are vying for the youth chief post to always put their party's interest first, adding that he would continue to lead, guide and monitor the wing until his responsibility ends in December.

"I will always be with the party. I am confident that Barisan Nasional and Umno's struggle will always be relevant.

"We have gone through situations where we have to reinvent and revamp ourselves," he said, adding that the party's duty now was to rebuild the party and hear the voice of the people and grassroots instead of chasing for positions.

--THE STAR