KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the result of voting at Gelang Patah youth division should be used in deciding the vice-youth chief after two candidates received equal number of votes.

He pointed out the possibility of dispute involving the parties involved if the popular votes method was used to settle the stalemate.

“If we can count the votes at Gelang Patah division, there is no need for popular votes. If we use the popular vote method, it will lead to conflict.

“It is better if we can settle it through vote counting in Gelang Patah,” he told a press conference with Umno vice-presidential candidate Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein after a Rangkaian Sahabat Muda programme here last night.

A total 191 Umno youth divisions concluded their elections on Saturday except for Gelang Patah which was postponed due to internal problems.

Earlier, Umno Election Committee chairman Tan Sri Tajol Rosli Ghazali when announcing the election results at Menara Datuk Onn last night said Jamawi Jaafar and Khairul Azwan Harun, each received 73 votes, from 190 divisions.

As such, he said the result for number two post would be decided based on the counting of popular votes.

Popular vote is based on the actual number of votes which is given by the delegates to every candidate.

Khairy said, “I have discussed with Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan whether we want to implement the suggestion by Tan Sri Tajol, namely, to count the popular votes, or we settle the case of Gelang Patah division.”

Meanwhile, Jamawi when met by reporters, said he was confident the result would favour him if the popular vote counting was implemented based on his record of acceptance at the divisions.

But, he stressed that he would accept with an open heart if the result went against him.

Meanwhile, Khairul Azwan, when contacted, declined to comment on the matter. — Bernama