Umno: Motion not to contest top posts conflicting – Khir Toyo

SHAH ALAM - The motion for the positions of Umno president and deputy president not to be contested as presented in the debate session on the Umno president’s policy speech at the Umno General Assembly (PAU) 2022 on Friday is not in line with the party’s constitution.

Former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said the additional motion was instead a normal motion where, even if approved, would not restrict the choice of Umno members.

He explained that the motion was the same as the education, economic and welfare motions submitted by elected representatives to debate the policy speech of the Umno President every time the PAU was held.

“Any additional motion related to the amendment of the party constitution must be brought to the executive general meeting (EGM) by being included in the agenda and known to Umno representatives in advance.

“In the matter of the additional motion that the two highest positions of the party not contested, it is simply a normal motion that does not restrict Umno members as long as the party’s constitutional amendment regarding the matter is not implemented.

“With that motion only presented by Negeri Sembilan representative at the PAU 2022 debate stage, I think it’s up to the party members to follow or not,” he told Sinar Premium.

He commented on the additional motion submitted by a representative from Negeri Sembilan who urged that the positions of president and deputy president of Umno not be contested in the party election expected to be held in May.

Currently, Umno president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan expressed their readiness to be challenged by any of the party’s leaders in the upcoming election, despite the demands of 126 Umno division heads and wing leaders that the positions not be contested.

Among the Umno leaders who have the potential to challenge the two Umno ‘Top 2’ positions are Barisan Nasional (BN) treasurer general Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein; former Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin and Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

Meanwhile, Umno Youth Exco Bastien Onn said the space for the positions contested in the party needed to be open based on the Umno’s constitution to ensure that the debate on who the party’s real traitor was stopped.

“Strictly speaking, whether Umno wants to be with Pakatan Harapan (PH) or Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the future, let the grassroots decide the direction of the party through the Umno election later.

“Is it fair that only one party is blamed during the new government formation polemic involving Umno today when both took different positions for the party’s benefit? “If the democratic space for party elections is not fully implemented, I do not see the polemic of who is the traitor of Umno being ended, instead the party is feared to fall into the valley of destruction,” said the Segamat Umno Youth leader.

Meanwhile, Labis Umno Puteri leader Norrulhuda Marsidin admitted that she was not surprised by the additional motion presented by the Negeri Sembilan representative and believed that the matter had been planned.

She believed that all 2,800 Umno delegates present at PAU 2022 at Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre (WTC) would not agree to such an additional motion, with a round of ‘boo’ by a large number of them being clear evidence.

“The Umno president said he is ready to fight, so why are some parties afraid of a contest for the two highest positions in the party? “All parties have to be confident in the choice of the grassroots and I believe the PAU 2022 representatives will not approve the motion,” he stressed.