A proposal to leave the top two positions in Umno uncontested in the upcoming party election has received official pushback from the party’s Johor chapter this morning.
In debating party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's policy speech at the Umno general assembly 2022, Johor Umno delegate Pandak Ahmad questioned the basis of such a proposal and how it could be debated without submission of a proper motion.
"As far as I remember, the party president already shook hands with Khairy Jamaluddin and indicated that he was ready to fight.
"As far as I know, the president is someone who is magnanimous (berjiwa besar) and I am confident that he has no problem fighting and defending his position. The same goes for our deputy president.
"But yesterday, we began debating an additional motion to have the party president and deputy president posts left uncontested, purportedly in the name of party stability and unity.
"Thus, Johor Umno wants to ask (this assembly), how far are we going to ride on these excuses of party unity and party stability?" said Pandak (above), based on his debate speech text sent to the media.
The Iskandar Puteri Umno division deputy chief's speech came a day after a Negeri Sembilan delegate submitted a motion proposing that the positions of Umno president and deputy president not be contested in the next party election, which has to be held by May 19.
Mohd Shukei Samsudin from Rembau had put forward the additional motion when he was debating the president's policy speech on Friday afternoon.
Pandak also questioned how Shukei's additional motion could be debated in the assembly, claiming that it was not submitted through proper procedures as required by the party constitution and Umno general assembly rules.
"I found it puzzling, how could this additional motion be accepted and put for debate? Maybe Umno has now become a party where anything goes.
"Referring to Article 30 of the Umno constitution and Article 10 of assembly rules, I found that the motion put forward yesterday was improper and should not have been allowed to continue (being discussed) in this assembly.
"Because it (the motion) has to follow the party constitution and meeting rules. If you are not sure, please refer (to the party laws)," he added.
‘More authority for Umno liaison committees’
On top of its pushback against the no competition for top party positions, Johor Umno also proposed that the party change how state Umno chapters are governed.
They want the state Umno liaison chief and deputy chiefs to be chosen from among the respective state committee members and no longer be appointed directly by the Umno president.
Pandak said this was to enable state Umno liaison committees to be more significant.
"Due to changes in the political landscape and for Umno's survival, it requires us to have a more specific solution. Thus, state Umno liaison committees should be given more significant authority.
"For example, the appointment of state Umno chairperson and deputy chairperson should be from among members of the respective state committees, instead of being appointed by the party president.
"This authority is hoped to be able to influence major party decisions, fine-tune decisions according to local political appetite, and ensure that they are acceptable by the grassroots." - Mkini
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