KUALA LUMPUR: The contest of the top two Umno posts was the focus of the party wings’ meetings and the issue is likely to dominate debates at the general assembly today.
Delegates at the Wanita, Youth and Puteri meetings had voiced their thoughts on whether the top posts should be contested.
While some of them believed that the post of party president and deputy president should remain status quo to maintain harmony within the party, others were for the contest to take place.
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There are delegates who are rallying behind Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who has been blamed for the party’s dismal performance at the 15th General Election, and those who claimed that there must be a contest in the name of democracy.
Former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has described efforts to prevent a contest for the president and deputy president’s posts as “madness”.
“Stop this madness. I think the president is a fighter who does not fear taking on challengers. Make room for contests. Don’t kill democracy in Umno,” he said.
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He also lauded Ahmad Zahid’s readiness to fight for the No.1 post.
Khairy, who met the incumbent president at a lunch function yesterday, said Ahmad Zahid had given his assurance that he is prepared to take on any contender.
“This means he is ready to face any challenger in the party polls and the president is brave,” said Khairy in a posting on Instagram yesterday.
“I salute him; he is not afraid. So any effort to stop democracy to the contest of the top two posts is against the bravery of the Umno president.
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“Let us allow all positions to be contested,” he said.
In a video that Khairy posted on Instagram, Ahmad Zahid was seen greeting delegates and shaking their hands at the general assembly.
When approached, Ahmad Zahid gave Khairy a handshake and declared “ready to fight!”.
In 2018, Ahmad Zahid won the contest for the presidency in a tense neck-and-neck race against Khairy.
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Meanwhile, Umno information chief Datuk Isham Jalil said those who have the intention to contest for the party’s top two positions should announce it immediately.
He said Umno is open to any of its members to contest the president, deputy president or three vice-presidents’ positions.
“We’re not stopping anyone from contesting the positions. We deny allegations saying that we bar any member from challenging the president. We believe that this narrative was only to spark anger among the members towards the leadership,” he said.
At the Youth meeting, several delegates backed calls for the president and deputy president posts to be contested.
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Melaka Umno delegate Fairul Nizam Roslan raised the question of who had initiated the proposal that the positions should not be contested.
“Dear Datuk Seri President, this son of Melaka wants to say, please allow the contest. I am confident that the president is not scared,” said the Melaka Umno Youth chief.
Negri Sembilan delegate Sufian Maradzi said democracy must be allowed to flourish in Umno.
“Contests should be allowed for all positions, at all levels. Please do not impose such restrictions. We are confident that if the leadership is doing the right thing, God willing, that the same leadership will be retained,” he said.
At the Wanita meeting, Pahang delegate Datuk Juhanis Abd Aziz said any contest must not be for certain posts only.
“If we want to have a contest, it must be for all or none,” she said.
Umno elections must be held before May 19 following an amendment to its constitution which stated that polls must be held within six months after the general election.
