We will change Umno constitution to specify Islam as Sunni, declares Najib

Clause 3.3 of the Umno Constitution will be amended to recognise Islam as the federal religion and that Islam constitutes Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak (pic).

The prime minister said the Umno constitution would also be amended to fine tune the party's election process.

"We will state in no uncertain terms on Islam upheld by Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (followers of the Sunni sect) in the Umno Constitution," he said in his adjournment speech at the 2013 Umno General Assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur today.

Clause 3.3 of the Umno Constitution states that Umno upholds, defends and propagates the official religion of Islam and respects the constitutional rights of non-Muslims to freedom of religion.

Najib said the decision was made after consultation with Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Supreme Council member on religious affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom on the outcome of the debate.

Speaking at a news conference later, Najib said Umno would hold a special general assembly next year to amend the party's constitution.

Asked whether the Federal Constitution will also be amended to redefine Islam, he said many processes had to be observed before such an amendment could be made.

"We have to go through the discussion process first, we need to get a two-thirds majority (in Parliament), and we need the support of the Conference of Malay Rulers," he said.

Touching on party polls in his speech, Najib said the Umno Supreme Council would deliberate on recommendations gathered from divisions on ways to improve the election process.

"I think in principle, the election process is good but the conditions are too loose. We do not want them to be too stringent or too loose, just in between," he said. - Bernama