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(The Malaysian Insider) - Umno supreme council member Datuk Norza Zakaria will not be allowed to run in party polls next week while an appeals panel today confirmed that Datuk Seri Mohamed Ali Rustam is barred from any contest.
Party sources said a decision has been made to bar the Federal Territory Umno Youth leader, charged with two counts of bribing delegates in the polls campaign. He is the second leader to be barred from running for party elections after Ali was stopped from the No. 2 race by the disciplinary board. The popular vice-president's appeal was rejected by the appeals panel that met today. Critics say the action against both and warnings to others are seen as a purge of loyalists to outgoing party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.  OUT: Norza is barred after being charged with corruption. — Bernama pictures Khairy is contesting the Umno Youth chief post against rivals Datuk Seri Mohamed Khir Toyo, who was cleared of a similar charge, and Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir. Mukhriz's father, former party president and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, quit Umno last year to protest his successor's rule and has openly endorsed his own loyalists for the top party posts. Apart from Datuk Seri Najib Razak who will succeed Abdullah, Dr Mahathir wants Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as deputy, saying the other contestants are not qualified or seen as corrupt.  OUT: The Umno appeals panel has rejected Ali’s appeal. Norza, Ali and Muhammad have received rapturous welcome in Umno roadshows over recent weeks despite the taint against them. Party officials and Muhyiddin are now working overtime to contain the fallout from Ali's knock-out as he was seen as the front-runner despite not having the blessings of party elders. Najib's followers are now asking delegates to vote Muhyiddin as he is seen as the most qualified. But such ringing endorsement could be detrimental to Muhyiddin as delegates want a free hand to decide the party leadership. "We don't need to be told to vote for whom. We know what to do. Anyway, Dr M is not a member and shouldn't interfere," a Johor delegate told The Malaysian Insider. Incidentally, Dr Mahathir has said he will attend the Umno general assembly next week as an observer. He is still popular within the party he founded after it was declared illegal in 1988. He also said he might rejoin after Abdullah steps down from all posts.
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