Not even the president is above the party when a decision has been made, says Zahid Hamidi

KUALA LUMPUR - Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stressed that the decision to hold party elections after the general election (GE15) was not decided by him, but by the party.

A total of 186 divisions out of 191 divisions agreed to hold party elections after GE15.

Zahid said at the opening ceremony of the Umno Annual General Assembly (AGM) today (March 18) that it is merely a member’s custom to respect the party’s decision.

There was no need to change tradition, he added, stating that party elections have always been held after general elections.

However, he acknowledged that there were a fair few who wanted the election to be held before GE15.

This, he said, showed that Umno practises true democracy.

"We have set in accordance with the agreement of the Registrar of Societies that party elections be held at the end of this year, or to be precise before December 29, 2022.

"Anyone can contest, including the post of president, deputy president, vice president and so on,” he said.