PETALING JAYA: Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said has officially joined the race for the Umno vice-president’s post.
She submitted her nomination papers at the Umno headquarters in the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur this afternoon, Berita Harian reported.
The law and institutional reform minister is the only female candidate in a field of nine, so far, in the contest for the three vice-president’s posts.
Earlier this week, incumbents Khaled Nordin and Mahdzir Khalid were the first to declare their candidacy for the post.
They were followed by Titiwangsa MP Johari Ghani, Supreme Council member Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, foreign minister Zambry Abdul Kadir, Pahang menteri besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, former housing and local government minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican, and former Johor menteri besar Hasni Mohammad.
Incumbent vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob has yet to declare if he will join the race as well.
Speculation is rife that Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki is also eyeing the vice-presidency.
Nominations for the Umno elections will close tomorrow.
The elections for Wanita, Youth and Puteri leadership posts will be held on March 11, while division officials, vice-presidents and members of the Supreme Council will be elected on March 18.