KUALA LUMPUR, 8 Okt -- Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein (kiri) berbincang sesuatu dengan Menteri Belia dan Sukan Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar sebelum mempengerusikan Mesyuarat Koordinasi Transformasi Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) di Kementerian Pertahanan, KHamis. --fotoBERNAMA (2015) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA
KUALA LUMPUR – A couple of senior Umno members have said the organisation’s old mindset where certain leadership positions should not be contested or challenged during the party’s election must go.
Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said that no seat, including the party’s top post currently held by acting president Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi should be considered sacred, as it was this practice that was one of the reasons behind Umno’s devastating defeat in GE14.
“Oh, no, no, no, no, we cannot have this no contest rule anymore in Umno. I mean, you know… you are sending a bad message to the public. I disagree if there are any posts not being contested. I’m happy that people support me but any positions for myself or anyone else must be contested.
“I think this no-contest business is one of the reasons why people lost faith in us in the first place. It looked like we don’t provide the democratic space for our members. We better stop this nonsense of no-contest business,” said Khairy.
The 14th General Election saw a change in Malaysian history with the humiliating fall of the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition which had governed the country since Merdeka. In its worst performance, BN only managed to obtain 79 out of the 222 federal seats.
Earlier, former Melaka chief minister Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam told reporters that Melaka Umno has unanimously decided to endorse Zahid as party president, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as deputy president and Khairy Jamaluddin as vice-president.
Mohd Ali, who is also Bukit Katil division chief said that the party needs “good captains” to provide stability seeing that they are now on the other side of the fence. He believed that during the upcoming party elections, the three seats above must not be contested by party members.
Later, Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar Radin echoed Khairy’s sentiments and voiced his disagreement to the endorsements proposed by Mohd Ali.
“I think Umno should change because everyone on the ground have changed so why should we stop anyone from contesting any posts? I think it’s high time for Umno to change and give way to everyone who wants to offer themselves as a leader.
“I don’t agree with Tan Sri Ali Rustam,” said Bung Mokhtar.
Melaka Umno backs Zahid, Hishammuddin and Khairy for party’s top three posts
KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Melaka wants Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Khairy Jamaluddin as the party’s president, deputy and vice-president.
Bukit Katil division chief Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam told reporters at Umno’s headquarters in PWTC today that this move, as well as new blood in Umno’s leadership positions was crucial to strengthen the party after its humiliating defeat in GE14.
He said the posts for the three should not be contested.
“For Umno to remain strong, my division and Umno Melaka in general has decided to endorse Datuk Seri Zahid as president, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin as his deputy and Khairy Jamaluddin as one of the three vice-presidents.
“We need our captains, we don’t need to think twice about this if we want to move forward. The rest of the positions, including the other two vice-presidency posts can be contested. We also hope that more youths will obtain leadership roles either in the wings or in the Umno branches themselves.
“This can strengthen the party,” said Mohd Ali who appeared drained and haggard after a grueling General Election which saw the former ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) securing only 79 out of the 222 parliamentary seats and Melaka falling to the hands of Pakatan Harapan (PH).
The former Melaka chief minister was in town for a meeting with the party’s top leadership and Umno Melaka’s leaders.
He also stated that Umno branch meetings is being conducted nationwide today as preparation for their upcoming Annual General Assembly which will also see the defeated party choosing new leaders and successors.
He then added that he will not be contesting in any more elections, unless the party says otherwise, and is more than willing to step down for someone else to take over.
However, even if he was to be elected to represent his division again, Mohd Ali said he only wants to hold to the post for the next two to three years before stepping down and making way for new blood.
– Malay mail
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