RoS clears Umno of wrongdoing over no-contest motion

 

Umno had approved a no-contest motion for its top two posts at its general assembly in January.

PETALING JAYA: The Registrar of Societies (RoS) has cleared Umno of any wrongdoing after the party had approved a no-contest motion for the presidency and deputy presidency in its elections.

The decision by RoS was revealed by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“The secretary-general received a letter, dated March 3, from the home ministry to inform us of the minister’s decision on the motion,” he said, referring to Ahmad Maslan and Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, respectively.

Zahid said this at a press conference in Penang this evening after announcing the candidates for the Umno elections.

RoS comes under the home ministry’s purview.

According to the letter, which Zahid read out, the home ministry had exempted the party from complying with a section in the Societies Act 1966.

“The letter confirms and validates that the top two posts will not be contested as the (Umno) permanent chairman has abided by the rules and clauses in the party constitution,” he said.

This included the permanent chairman asking delegates if they agreed with the motion, he said, adding that 95% of the delegates agreed.

Last month, it was reported that RoS was investigating a possible violation of the party’s constitution after the motion was approved at its general assembly in January.

The investigation came about after two Umno members lodged a report with RoS claiming that the tabling of the motion at the general assembly had breached Article 10 of the party’s constitution.

They insisted that it had to be tabled two weeks before the general assembly, or seven days if tabled by the Supreme Council.

The Umno elections will commence on March 11, with the Wanita, Youth and Puteri leadership posts being up for grabs, while division officials, vice-presidents and members of the Supreme Council will be elected on March 18. - FMT