Report: Zahid confirms Rais Yasin win as Tangga Batu Umno division head
KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed Datuk Rais Yasin’s victory as the Tangga Batu Umno division head in Melaka.
He denied that Rais’ win had been invalidated as claimed in a viral letter, Berita Harian reported today.
“I would like to confirm the Umno Elections Committee chairman had announced that there was no cancellation letter and Rais has been validated as the Tangga Batu division head,” Ahmad Zahid was quoted as saying after performing his prayers at Masjid Jamek Ar-Rahman Kampung Pulai in Serkam, Melaka last night.
The Malay newspaper reported that Zahid was not certain when asked if the viral letter was fake.
“What is important has been validated,” he was quoted as saying, referring to the validity of Rais’ position as the Tangga Batu division head.
Yesterday, national news agency Bernama reported that Rais’ victory had been cancelled by the Umno Elections Committee.
Tangga Batu Umno secretary Datuk Abdul Latip Mohamad reportedly said that he had received a WhatsApp notification from central Umno at 2.26pm yesterday.
"The letter said after a study was conducted on the election, the 2023 Umno Elections Committee made a decision and ruled that the election for the position of Tangga Batu Umno division head is invalid.
"Accordingly, Tangga Batu Umno needs to hold a re-election for the position of Umno division head only," he was quoted as saying.
Rais had reportedly defeated the incumbent Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad by only four votes with 282 votes to the latter’s 278.
Ahmad Zahid had recently reportedly appointed Rais as the Melaka Umno liaison committee deputy chairman.
Rais is also the Paya Rumput assemblyman.
