Lawyer: Najib cannot sign polls candidates' appointments

Umno president and BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak cannot sign the letters of appointment for candidates from Umno and BN in the coming general election following questions raised on Umno's legality.

This was stated by lawyer Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla, who represented the 16 Umno members who filed a judicial reviewapplication today to challenge the decision of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to extend the period from holding the Umno leadership elections until April next year.

Haniff said the party supreme council and divisions ceased to exist effective today, while the Umno branches ceased to exist effective March 1.

"Hence Najib cannot sign the watikah (credentials) of the candidates due to the questionable position of Umno," he told reporters.

Kampung Pandan Umno branch leader Salihudin Ahmad Khalid, who is one of the plaintiffs in the judicial review application, said he has written to ROS inquiring about the status of the party and has not received any reply.

"I have been a branch leader since 2013 and I question whether my position is legal today due to the absence of branch elections, which were supposed to be held by Feb 28 this year," Salihudin said.

[More to follow] - Mkini