After more than half of the 191 divisional votes were counted, Khairy and Zahid are in a close race, with Zahid leading.

As at 8.30pm, there are still about 50 Umno divisions which have yet to finalise their results.

The race for the top Umno post, the party’s first since the divisive polls of 1987 which saw Razaleigh narrowly losing to then president Dr Mahathir Mohamad, comes just over a month after its biggest electoral defeat since its formation in 1946.

There are 191 Umno divisions nationwide, with 146,000 delegates casting their votes since this morning. Voting finished about 5pm in most places.

The Umno elections were postponed in 2016 to enable the party to concentrate on the 14th general election campaign.

The post of deputy president, vacant since 2016 following the sacking of Muhyiddin Yassin from the party, is also keenly contested.

The contest for the number two position is a straight fight between former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Mohamad Hasan and Umno information chief Annuar Musa.

Unofficial results as at 8.30pm show Mohamad leading with 27 votes, while Annuar has 16.

Meanwhile, early results in the jostle for the three vice-president positions show former Cabinet members Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Mahdzir Khalid, Johari Abdul Ghani, as well as former Johor menteri besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin, in the lead.

Other candidates include Sheikh Razali Sheikh Hamad, Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and Ahmad Said.

Official results are expected to be announced by midnight.