KUALA LUMPUR – The Umno general assembly scheduled to take place next week will only feature one motion on party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s policy speech.
This deviates from regular proceedings, as delegates usually give speeches on various pressing concerns involving education, economics, and the cost of living, among others.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan announced the matter today during a media briefing on the upcoming party event at the Putra World Trade Centre here.
He said that the decision was made as the relevant ministers able to address certain issues are not Umno party members.
“For example, the issue of costs of living is sure to be a hot topic, but the minister in charge of it now is not from Umno,” he said, referring to Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, who is the PKR deputy president.
He also cited time constraints as the general assembly will only be held for two days instead of its regular three-day affair.
The assembly was originally scheduled to take place last month but was postponed to January 11-14 in light of the school holidays and floods.
After the party wings – Umno Youth, Puteri Umno, and Wanita Umno - have undergone their assembly on January 11 and 12, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will officiate an opening ceremony for the three groups on the night of the second day.
Zahid will then deliver his policy speech at 8am the next day, kickstarting the main section of the general assembly.
Commenting on the assembly’s agenda, Ahmad said that a special assembly will be held on January 13, after the conclusion of the party wings’ assembly.
He noted that besides discussions on amending the party’s constitution to allow division information chiefs from party wings to automatically be delegates for future assemblies, the meeting will also feature talks on the anti-hopping act.
“We will streamline elements for party members (so that the party constitution is) in line with the act on dropping members (who go against party directives).
“This was not reflected in our party constitution previously,” he said.
He added that 5,523 delegates, including from the three party wings as well as at least 675 information chiefs from 191 divisions across the county, will be attending the general assembly. – The Vibes, January 3, 2023
