Umno constitution silent on who gives winding-up speeches, says Ku Nan

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor says debating over which leader gives winding-up speeches turns the situation into a competition. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Ahmad Muslim, November 30, 2015.

Umno's constitution does not specify which of its leaders should deliver the winding-up speech at the party's annual general assembly to be held next week, secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said.

Responding to questions by the press on whether winding-up speeches by other party leaders would still be allowed, Tengku Adnan said it was not stated in the party constitution.

"To me, this is not a necessity under the constitution.

"In the constitution there is nothing specific that says a certain individual has to speak. It ends up becoming competition of who's the best in giving speeches.

"It is not good for my party," he said at a press conference after an event in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said he was of the view that the only one who should give a winding-up speech at the end of the assembly was the party president.

"To me, the one who should speak is just the president. No need for others. But this is up to the president and the supreme council to decide. I am only the secretary-general," Tengku Adnan said.

Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak last week announced that the openings of the Youth, Wanita and Puteri assemblies would no longer be done by the deputy president, and would instead be officiated by the respective wing chiefs.

The move effectively bars Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from speaking to party members. Traditionally, Umno's deputy president officiates the opening assemblies of the wings.

Muhyiddin has fallen out of favour with Najib, who is also prime minister and who dropped the former as deputy prime minister in a July Cabinet reshuffle for openly questioning his brainchild, 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and a RM2.6 billion political donation in his personal bank accounts. 

Tengku Adnan today was also asked about rumours that Muhyiddin would not be allowed to deliver the winding-up address at the assembly.

He said the issue, as well as the leadership's decision to stop the deputy president from officiating the wing assemblies, was not a fundamental matter in the party's constitution.

"What is more important is that the general assembly proceeds smoothly."

- TMI