Confirmed - No challenge for top two Umno posts

UMNO AGM | Umno has passed a motion for the president and deputy president's posts to remain uncontested in next year's party polls.

Tabled by the Youth wing, the motion was passed by a show of hands during the Umno general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

The move, which is to keep Umno focussed on the 14th general election, would allow Zahid, who is assuming the duties of the deputy president, to officially become the number two without facing challengers for the post.

Zahid is currently an Umno vice-president.

The party elections were supposed to be held in 2016, but were deferred to next year pending GE14.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has never faced a challenge for the Umno presidency since taking up the mantle in 2009.

He won uncontested in 2009, when the nomination quota was in place. The quota system was abolished in 2013, but again Najib was uncontested.

Rompin Umno Youth representative Mohamad Sahfri Ab Aziz, who put forth the motion, also made a motion for Hishamuddin Tun Hussein to retain his position as Umno vice-president.

He said this was not meant to sideline party elections but rather to show the spirit of loyalty and a winning mentality.

Umno has three vice-presidents. One of the posts remains vacant following the resignation of Mohd Shafie Apdal, who is now leading the Sabah-based opposition party Warisan.

The deputy president post, on the other hand, has remained vacant since last year after former deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin was sacked from Umno.

Muhyiddin, who was dropped from the Cabinet a year earlier over his critical views of 1MDB, has since crossed over to the opposition and is the president of Bersatu, which is touted as an alternative to Umno.

Since his removal, Zahid was appointed as deputy premier and later as the de facto Umno number two.

In an interview with the Star last month, Hishammuddin, who is Najib's cousin, expressed support for the proposal that the top two positions are not subject to contest.

“The most important thing for us is that the Umno machinery and leadership, at all levels, focuses on GE14.

“If it means that the top two posts remain uncontested because there has been a motion at the division level for these posts not to be contested, then I’m supportive of that,” he said.

The party elections were supposed to be held in 2016, but were deferred pending GE14.- Mkini