Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today told the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government not to equate deferring the Umno assemblies and party polls to postponing the Parliament sitting.
This is because the Dewan Rakyat sitting can be conducted with strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) he said, adding that it would be difficult to hold Umno assemblies as they involve some 3.3 million party members.
"The postponement of the Umno polls cannot be equated with the postponement of the Parliament sitting because it (Umno assemblies and polls) involves a total of 66,287 meetings and 3.3 million party members," Zahid said in a statement today.
This included 21,135 branch-level meetings, 21,058 Wanita wing meetings, 15,496 Youth wing meetings, and 8,598 Puteri wing meetings, he said.
A total of 764 meetings will also take place across 191 divisions involving the party's main body and three wings, he said.
"The parliamentary session can still proceed with strict SOPs and it is easy to monitor and ensure compliance," said the Bagan Datuk MP.
Zahid was referring to the recent Parliament session which was cut short after Covid-19 cases were detected during the five-day Dewan Rakyat sitting.
On Aug 6, Umno was shocked after an announcement by the Registrar Of Societies (ROS) claimed the postponement of the party's election was invalid.
The move by the ROS to invalidate Umno's decision to defer its elections came hot on the heels of a split among party MPs between a pro-(PN) faction led by party vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob and an opposing faction led by Zahid.
Umno elections are supposed to be held every three years, but the supreme council is empowered to delay elections by 18 months.
The ROS said the terms of the current Umno leadership had expired on June 30, while their decision to defer elections was made on July 7.
However, Zahid said the party's secretary-general Ahmad Maslan already provided a full explanation of Umno's decision to postpone its party polls, from the party's supreme council discussion to the responses by various quarters, including the Health Ministry, the National Security Council (NSC), and the ROS.
"It was suggested, in a letter by the Health Ministry and NSC, that the assembly and Umno election be held online. If it cannot be held online, then the party polls should be postponed to a date after the Covid-19 pandemic is under control.
"Umno decided to postpone as the party never held its meeting and assemblies online together with its polls at all levels. There were concerns of technical errors following poor internet coverage in the rural areas," added Zahid.
He also questioned if the ROS' decision to invalidate the postponement of Umno leadership elections was a desperate action by the PN government to weaken the party.
"We are worried if the latest development is just a desperate action by the PN government trying to pressure and weaken Umno.
"God willing, Umno will not remain silent. Umno knows what needs to be done. But what about the Umno MPs who still support the PN government?" he said.
He asked if those who openly supported the PN government approve the action taken by the PN government against their party.
"I urge them to open their eyes and realise the real struggle of the party for the sake of the people and nation," Zahid said. - Mkini
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