A Negeri Sembilan delegate today submitted a motion so that the positions of Umno president and deputy president are not contested in the party elections that will be held soon.
Mohd Shukei Samsudin from Rembau put forward the additional motion when speaking to debate the president's policy speech this afternoon.
However, the proposal received mixed reactions from the delegates present.
While there were a few delegates who were said to be unhappy with the motion, the majority of other delegates stood up to support the motion.
The motion brought by Shukei was supported by Wanita Umno delegate Suziyana Mahayuddin, when there was jeering from the group that did not agree.
An Umno delegate told Malaysiakini that in general, the "boos" from unhappy delegates when the motion was tabled was not very noticeable.
Tanjong Piai's delegate, Mohd Hafif Abdul Kamal, said at the beginning, there were indeed protests from some but it was not very prominent.
"It's normal... that's a spontaneous reaction, it's true. The majority seems to agree that (the two main positions) should not be contested. Wait for tomorrow. Now it's being debated.
"I personally don't agree (with the election) because Umno is weak. If it is contested, it may create a split. After this, we will see how it goes.
"If you are strong, you can have (elections), now it is not appropriate," he said when met.
Contest when party is strong
A delegate from Tanjong, Penang - Fahami Ashrof Badaruddin - said that since the establishment of Umno, the party’s top post was only contested four times.
When contested, he said it was done when Umno was strong and there was no significant division like now.
"If it is contested, there will be a split among the leaders, [...] make sure that there is a strong line-up to face the next round of elections and strengthen Umno again," he said.
Meanwhile, Seremban Umno Puteri secretary, Suzalinawati Osman, claimed that most delegates supported the top two posts not being contested.
"So far all the delegates are supportive because we have to give the president and deputy president a chance.
"Previously, they were not given the space because they had just been appointed to join the cabinet.
"It is true that most delegates support, if there are delegates who do not agree that is normal. But Puteri fully supports it,” she told Malaysiakini.
Meanwhile, Umno information chief Isham Jalil, who was met after the motion debate session today, confirmed that the proposal to not open the top two posts to be contested has not been finalised.
He said whether the proposal gets accepted or not will only be determined tomorrow.
Isham added that delegates are free to submit any motion and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has explained that he leaves the matter entirely to the delegates to make provisions.
"We won't stop anyone, we also don't stop any (party) who has a proposal.
"Officially it hasn't been finished (finalised) yet. Anyone who wants to bring a proposal, it's up to them.
"The president has also given a statement that Umno does not make the decision (level) at the highest working council but leaves it to the delegates.
"Today, there is a state bringing a proposal and we leave it to the delegates (to make a decision)," he said. - Mkini
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