KUANTAN, Feb 27 — Claims about the existence of factions among candidates vying for the vice president posts in Umno’s polls next month are just assumptions, said Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

Wan Rosdy, who is one of the seven candidates in the running for the three vice president posts, said that the alleged existence of pro-presidential, anti-presidential and independent camps in the contest this time was just ‘the view of two or three figures’.

"I myself do not know (that there are different camps)... this (vice president contest) is open to all and we are all offering ourselves to serve the party if given the opportunity and trust.

"I hope campaigning and the competition will be healthy,” he told reporters after attending the Excellence Awards Night in conjunction with the Second Anniversary of the Kuantan City Council (MBK) here yesterday.

Also present were Pahang State Secretary Datuk Seri Sallehuddin Ishak, State Local Government and Housing, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Datuk Seri Johari Harun and Kuantan Mayor Datuk Hamdan Hussin.

Apart from Wan Rosdy, also in the running for the VP posts are two incumbents, namely Kota Tinggi Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Padang Terap Umno Division head Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

The others in the fray are Titiwangsa MP Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Simpang Renggam MP Datuk Seri Hasni Mohamad, Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

Meanwhile, commenting on last night’s event, Wan Rosdy said that he hoped that MBK’s success in obtaining 30 awards at various levels within two years of becoming a city will be an incentive for MBK, municipal councils and district councils in Pahang to improve the public delivery system more effectively, collectively and competitively. — Bernama