Umno to amend constitution to oust Zahid, Najib?

Umno is expected to amend its constitution in an extraordinary general meeting in November, which will result in its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his predecessor Najib Abdul Razak automatically dropped from their positions.

The amendment is to Clause 9.9 of the Umno constitution, which says that any party leader who is facing court action will be automatically dropped from his or her position.

Najib, the former prime minister, now heads the Pekan division of the party.

According to a source, however, making this amendment will not be easy, as it needs the agreement of two-thirds of delegates at the EGM.

"What is worrying is that this action will lead to a split within Umno, since Najib and Zahid have their own following," the source said, adding that several other notbale constitutional amendments will be made.

It is learned that Umno vice president Mohamed Khaled Nordin has been tasked to scrutinise the issues pertaining to the amendment to Clause 9.9.

Deputy president Mohamad Hasan, who has served as acting Umno head since Zahid went on leave, said last month that an EGM will be held to amend certain provisions in the party constitution.

This includes granting the Sabah Umno greater autonomy, which means the chapter will be able to make its own decisions without referring to the headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The EGM is set to be held during the Umno general assembly from Nov 13 to 16.

Zahid, who is facing 47 counts of money-laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption, is facing immense pressure from within Umno to let go of his post.

Najib, meanwhile, is facing multiple court trials related to 1MDB.

On the other amendments, the source said that these will include limiting office-bearers to three terms.

"This is also for Umno division chief posts," the source noted. "This is the reform that Umno is trying to enact."  - Mkini