[UPDATED] Different Umno president, deputy may put unity govt at risk: party info chief

KUALA LUMPUR – Although there are no plans for a motion to prevent contests for Umno’s top two posts, party information chief Isham Jalil expressed concern that a change in leadership may disrupt the unity government.

He also said it might allow “outside” influences to “take over” the party at the grassroots level.

If Umno were to get a new president and deputy president in party polls that must be held by May, there is no guarantee that those leaders would not pull support from the government, despite the current agreement in place, he added.

“I also agree with (Johor Umno deputy chief Datuk) Nur Jazlan’s (Mohamad) statement that open elections for the top two posts could expose the party to disruptive influence from outsiders looking to break Umno,” he told the media at a meet-and-greet session at party headquarters here today.

While there are proposals to stave off polls for the top two posts this term, he said it was generally agreed among Umno leaders that they cannot stop anyone from contesting.

“According to the party constitution, we cannot stop whoever wants to run for those two posts,” Isham added.

Barisan Nasional, of which Umno is the linchpin, is part of the unity government together with Pakatan Harapan, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Warisan.

The coalitions signed an agreement on December 16 binding them to the unity government  led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim formed after the 15th general election in November yielded a hung Parliament.

Meanwhile, regarding Umno’s image, Isham said the party was endeavouring to win a perception battle as it is still viewed as corrupt and tainted by money politics.

“This became clear during the last general election when we were blindsided by Perikatan Nasional.

“Something has to be done to ensure Umno’s future, especially its ability to attract younger voters,” he said.

He added that PN garnered some four million ballots from Malay voters while Umno received three million.

“We were not defeated by Pakatan Harapan but PN. The 120 seats that we contested, we lost 85 to them (PN).”

Earlier today, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he is open to being challenged by anyone who aspires to hold the party’s number one post in the upcoming party election.

He said he had faced opponents in the Umno’s 2018 polls, winning the presidency after defeating his two main challengers, Khairy Jamaluddin and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, by obtaining 93 votes to Khairy’s 51 and Tengku Razaleigh’s 23.

On Tuesday, Johor Umno’s Nur Jazlan, who is also the Pulai Umno division chief, cautioned the party against allowing the top two posts to be contested, given that Umno is currently rebuilding after a series of defections by its former leaders, including former president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The former Pulai MP said a new set of leaders does not guarantee a better future for Umno, and another major split could spell the end of the party.

Other Umno voices, however, feel that blocking contests for the top two posts could backfire, risking a leadership split as the vice-presidents’ posts are still up for grabs.

Although nothing is set in stone yet, a motion to bar party members from contesting the president and deputy president posts can be tabled during Umno’s general assembly, which is set to take place from January 11 to 14, with 5,523 delegates reportedly expected to participate. – The Vibes, January 5, 2023