Umno elections only after GE14, says Ahmad

Postponement will prevent internal divisions and focus on serving the people

PONTIAN: Umno will hold its party elections only after the 14th general election, which must be held by 2018, in order to strengthen the party and focus on the needs of the people, said its information chief Ahmad Maslan.

He said Umno leaders at all levels, whether branch, division, state or national, should understand that “our primary goal in postponing the Umno elections is to focus on serving the people and not to fight for posts”.

The postponement would also help to prevent internal division before a general election,” he told reporters after here last night.

Ahmad dismissed talk that the postponement was to curb democracy in the party. “Postponing party elections is nothing new in Umno. We did it during Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s tenure and that of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and now Najib Razak.”

The decision was made by consensus and supported by Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, he said.

The leaders had agreed not to contest posts at all levels next year and in the 18 months after that.

Ahmad said the priority for Umno and the Barisan Nasional was to win the next general election.

– BERNAMA