Noting how Umno’s elections in 2018 saw a three-way contest for the presidency, he pointed out that he received more votes than both his challengers combined.

In the 2018 Umno elections, Zahid obtained 99 votes while Khairy Jamaluddin received 61 votes and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah 30 votes.

“It’s not that I am flattering myself, but it was proven in 2018 that even the combined votes of the other two contenders was less than mine,” he said.

“I’m not being arrogant.”

Zahid, who was speaking to reporters at a press conference at the ministry of rural and regional development, was asked if he was ready to be challenged at the next party elections.

Zahid is a deputy prime minister as well as the rural and regional development minister.

Previously, there had been calls from within Umno for the posts of president and deputy president to be contested in the upcoming party elections.

However, Johor Umno deputy chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the top posts should not be contested, as part of bolstering Umno and regaining the people’s trust following its trouncing in the recent general election.

Nur Jazlan said a scramble for the top posts could split the party, and pointed out that an election for the president’s post had only been held four times since Umno was founded more than 70 years ago.

Zahid said he will leave it to the 160,000 Umno delegates across the country to decide on the competition for the top two posts when they convene for the party’s annual general assembly from Jan 11.

“Nearly 160,000 delegates representing their divisions will determine whether to retain the existing leadership or bring about change to ensure Umno and Barisan Nasional remain relevant in our political arena.

“Therefore, the delegates have the ‘absolute power’,” he said.

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