KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has confirmed he will be sitting out Umno’s party elections next month, Sinar Harian reported today.

The Bera MP who has been Umno vice-president since December 2018 told the newspaper that he does not intend to defend his post and has not submitted any form before nominations closed yesterday at 5pm.

“Correct [not defending].

“I have yet to submit,” Ismail Sabri was quoted as saying.

The Malay daily also reported Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan saying he will only join the Pontian division chief contest and aim for a spot in the party supreme council, not for one of the three vice-presidencies.

“If from the aspect of qualification and experience, I have been in Umno for a long time and had held the position of Umno information chief and also observed all 191 Umno divisions nationwide.

“But, I don’t have to be another vice-president candidate from Johor. When there are too many candidates, it will split the votes,” Ahmad, who is also deputy finance minister, was quoted as saying.

Other high profile candidates in the running for Umno leadership roles include Wan Emir Astar Wan Mohamad Khair-il Anuar, the husband of local celebrity Nur Amirah Filzah Badioezaman who is better known as Mira Filzah.

Wan Emir Astar is also the son of former Kuala Kangsar MP Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid and the late Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad who died in a helicopter tragedy in Sarawak in 2016.

Another celebrity spouse who is in the Umno election race is Norazuah Saadon, the wife of bass guitarist Nasir Daud from rock band Search; she is a member of the party’s Kulai division and gunning for a spot in the Umno Wanita executive council.

Sinar Harian reported a total of 270 candidates have registered for the Umno elections — all posts except for the presidency and deputy presidency — as at the close of nominations yesterday

It reported eight candidates alone for the three vice-president posts.

They are: Incumbent Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Datuk Seri Hasni Mohamad, and Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.