KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 — Incumbent Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid does not plan to let go of his post.

The former minister is the first of the three vice-presidents to announce his intention to defend his post in next month’s party election.

"For this session 2023/2026, I am happy to announce that I am offering myself once again to contest and defend the position of Umno vice-president for the second term.

"Umno is currently in a challenging situation. I want to continue the struggle together in the leadership ranks to help the president and deputy president armed with my experience at the federal and state level,” he told a press conference at the Seri Pacific Hotel here this afternoon.

He added that he has proven that he has the spirit and discipline to work together with the president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and deputy Datuk Seri Mohammad Hasan as a team.

Mahdzir first won the post in 2018.

He made it clear he is not allied to anyone else and does not belong to any "faction”.

"I will stand alone. For me the party is first. Even if I came here as menteri besar, a deputy minister or minister, it is because of the party,” he said.

The other two incumbents are Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, a former prime minister.

Other senior party leaders who have expressed interest to run for the vice-presidency are Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Datuk Seri Zambry Ab Kadir and Datuk Seri Hasni Muhammad.

None of the trio have confirmed if they will be contesting next month.

Mahdzir was in the federal Cabinet when the Barisan Nasional held sole control of the government.

He was also Kedah menteri besar from 2005 to 2008.

Umno is currently holding its internal party elections for all 191 divisions and 22,000 branches nationwide.

The party’s new office bearers will be elected from February 1 to March 18. However, the positions of president and deputy president will not be contested this time around.

In May last year, Umno amended its constitution to allow its party polls to be held within six months after the conclusion of the 15th general election.

The country’s biggest political party had earlier postponed its party elections for 18 months after the 2018/2021 term ended on June 30, 2021.