Umno Youth objects to leaving top two party posts uncontested

The Umno Youth wing has urged all quarters to cease proposing that the posts of party president and deputy president remain uncontested at its next internal polls.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said a move for the top two posts to remain uncontested would further jeopardise the public’s perception of the party.

“No, we can’t have that rule (uncontested positions) anymore in Umno. That proposal has sent a negative signal to the people.

“I don’t agree if there are any positions left uncontested in this next Umno polls. Of course I am happy if there are people supporting me but all positions in Umno must be contested,” Khairy told reporters when met at the party’s headquarters in Menara Datuk Onn, Kuala Lumpur.

He added that the move would further erode the people’s trust in the party.

“It is as if we are not opening the democratic space to our members. I think it would be best that we stop these talks about not contesting certain positions.

“We have a culture of not contesting certain positions and this is a factor that contributed to our loss in the elections,” he said.

Earlier, former Malacca chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam (photo) said Malacca Umno had proposed that the party’s president and deputy president posts, now held by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Hishammuddin Hussein, should remain uncontested.

At Umno’s annual general assembly last December, delegates also passed a motion for the top two posts to remain uncontested.

At the time, the motion had been tabled by Umno Youth and it was passed after being debated on the second day of the assembly.

'Top three leaders should resign'

Meanwhile, former Umno Kempas state assemblyperson Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Jumat said that the current top three decision-makers in Umno should also follow Najib’s move and resign from the party. 

“Responsibility cannot be rested upon just one man’s shoulders. 

“Rightfully, he (Najib) had to go but those who were collectively responsible, namely the top three decision-makers, at the very least should follow his departure,” he said in a statement. 

“I’ll be more direct in naming vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is now running the duties of president, vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein who has taken up the duties of the deputy president, and secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor,” he said.

Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid (photo) said Zahid had failed to act fast and accurately on the reports given to him by the intelligence agencies under his purview. 

Meanwhile, he said Tengku Adnan had "added fuel to the burning flame among the public with his damaging directives to the local councils and arrogant decisions on errant Umno veterans". 

“Hishammuddin, the first cousin to the former prime minister who was openly known to be given the task to vet the candidates in this election, also failed miserably. 

“Many believe the candidates were chosen to strengthen his position in the next party elections instead of focusing solely on winning the general elections,” said Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid, who stressed that a total cleansing of Umno must be carried out in order for the party to rise as a formidable opposition.  -Mkini