> Khir finally qualifies

Ex-Selangor Mentri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo has made the Umno Youth chief contest a 3-way battle after bagging his 39th nomination today.

His qualifying nomination is from Balik Pulau Umno Youth division in Penang, while he picked up his 40th nomination from his home state of Tanjung Karang.

Khir Toyo, a dark horse in the race, will be facing frontrunner Mukhriz Mahathir, son of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Khairy Jamaluddin, son-in-law of outgoing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Khairy, who many initially thought was the man to beat, qualified for the contest only yesterday while Mukhriz sprung a surprised by qualifying soon after the 191 Umno Youth divisions began meeting earlier this month.

About two-thirds of the Youth division have already met and decided on their nominations.

Potential candidates need at least 39 nominations to qualify for the contest for the Youth wing chief.

Proxy fight

The post has been vacated by outgoing chief Hishammuddin Hussein, who is seeking a higher post in the ruling party - he is leading in the fight for one of the three vice-president posts.

Observers has called the Mukhriz-Khairy contest a proxy fight as the current premier is at odds with his predecessor, Mahathir.

Mukhriz has 65 nominations while Khairy has 45.

Meanwhile, Reezal Merican Naina Merican is intensifying his bid in the contest for deputy Youth chief. 

Reezal, who has recently been appointed political secretary to the prime minister, has notched up 56 nominations, while frontrunner Razali Ibrahim has 73 nominations - Malaysiakini.