ALOR SETAR, Oct 17 — A candidate for the election for Umno vice-presidents, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam is confident that all the six candidates for the post have equal chances of garnering the votes of the delegates in the party election on Saturday.

Ali Rustam.

The former Malacca chief minister (picture) said throughout the campaign period, he saw that the reception from the delegates in every state he had visited had been positive.

“I observe that the chances for all candidates are equal. The reception from the delegates have been good, so I hope they will evaluate me based on the services I had given to the party previously,” he told reporters after attending the briefing on the financing of business by Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB), here today.

He said that during the 13 years he served as Malacca chief minister, his experience in developing the state enabled him to contribute at the national level besides strengthening the party.

On the opinion of several groups that the post of vice-presidents should be given to younger people, Mohd Ali, 64, said he observed that many of the younger group were contesting for Supreme Council seats, which prompted him to contest for the post of vice-president, the third highest post in the party.

“I see that many young people are contesting for Supreme Council seats...so I feel it’s no longer suitable for me to contest for the post. So at my age now, I feel it’s more appropriate that I contest the post of vice-president,” he said.

Besides Mohd Ali, five other candidates vying for the vice-presidency are Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad and Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir. — Bernama