Umno members who want to reform the party can contest for positions other than the top two posts, said party veteran Mohamad Khir Toyo.
The former Selangor menteri besar also questioned whether those who are adamant about contesting for the presidency and deputy presidency had a personal agenda for doing so.
“The party’s top two positions should not be challenged if one wants to reform the party. Challenges (for the posts) would hamper the reform process and widen the crack in the party.
“Those who want to help reform the party should be contesting for other senior positions and give their ideas to the supreme council given that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is someone who listens to the council members’ opinions,” Khir (above) told Malaysiakini.
According to him, the Umno supreme council is more powerful than Zahid himself.
“Do they (the challengers) have any other agendas, such as wanting to become the prime minister or deputy prime minister?” he added.
Although Khir did not mention names, he is believed to be referring to Khairy Jamaluddin, who has repeatedly talked about contesting for the top posts and urged the top two positions to be contested.
The recent Umno general assembly passed a resolution to not have the party’s top two positions open for contest in its upcoming election.
Khir added that now is not the time for Umno leaders to squabble among themselves.
No reason for disappointment
Umno veteran Mustapha Yaakub said those who previously wanted to contest for the party’s top two posts can still try their luck for the other positions.
“There is no reason for the would-be challengers to be disappointed, as there is still room for them to contest for the three vice-president positions, which is listed in the party’s ‘top five’ leadership.
“In fact, their (contenders’) presence in the ‘top five’ (should they win) can strengthen the supreme council’s bid to strengthen the party after the 15th general election,” he told Malaysiakini.
Therefore, Mustapha urged Umno leaders to stop sniping at each other and let the top two posts in the party go uncontested. - Mkini
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