KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — With a new voting system for the Umno elections, the party’s state liaison committees, traditionally headed by the respective mentris besar or chief ministers, are now unsure of who to vote for.

Throughout the years, these committees had passed resolutions and openly voiced who they supported for the party president, deputy president and three vice-president posts. By extension, the state delegates, numbering some 2,500 previously, would follow the stand, although not 100 per cent.

This time the scenario is different, just like a general election where delegates go to vote at the respective division’s chosen venue, be it at a hotel or a community hall.

The voters comprise grassroots members who have heard and read about the candidates but many may have never even met them.

The state liaison committees, are now in a fix given the new voting system and more importantly, the entry of Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir into the ring (for the vice-presidency).

Before Mukhriz made known his intentions, some state liaison committees had quietly decided to support the incumbents — Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.

With Mukhriz’s surprise entry, the committees are in a Catch-22 situation.

This time, no liaison committee has declared their choice for the three vice-president posts, unlike the presidency and deputy presidency which are not expected to be contested.

Many made their stand to support incumbent Datuk Seri Najib Razak as president and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as his deputy but they left out the names of the three vice-presidents, a breakaway from tradition.

Mukhriz seems to have created ripples as even the incumbents are jittery except for Zahid who has apparently become the favourite among the grassroots.

Between Hishammuddin and Shafie, the former’s position seems shakier as Zahid is said to have overshadowed that of Hishammuddin performance-wise.

The state Umno liaison committees are torn between Najib’s cousin (Hishammuddin) and Mukhriz, the son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a man whose deeds are still remembered and adored by many.