[UPDATED] Don’t hide, announce intentions to run for top two posts: Umno info chief

KUALA LUMPUR – Anyone interested in challenging for top posts in Umno should announce their intentions to do so soon, said Supreme Council member Isham Jalil.

Isham, who is also party information chief, said while the party is not preventing anyone from vying for president and deputy president, contenders must put forth their names in the near future as internal polls must be held before May 19. 

Speaking during a press conference at the 2022 Umno general assembly here today, he also warned potential candidates against cloak-and-dagger tactics. 

“If you want to contest for specific party posts, make it known early on. Don’t hide and only come forward at the last minute while ordering your henchmen to do your bidding,” he said with a grin. 

Earlier today, Umno wing leaders addressing their respective delegates appeared to set the tone on calls that the party’s top two posts, helmed by president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, not be contested. 

However, Isham deemed it “senseless” to prevent anyone from contesting for leadership posts in the party since the Barisan Nasional linchpin is a democratic party. 

“Some figures from our wings have mooted letting the top two party posts remain uncontested, but this does not mean that we will stop anyone from challenging the titles.

“Most of those suggesting that the posts be uncontested are doing so because they want to avoid any chaos during the critical times the party is facing.”

He also said that since the party is not barring challengers, the narrative that democracy in Umno is tarnished does not stand.

“If we were to disallow people from contesting for the posts or amend our party constitution to prevent challengers, then that would bring our democracy into question, but that is not the case now.”

He confirmed that no proposal has been made to amend the party constitution to disallow contests for the president and deputy president’s posts.

Speculation has been rife over whether Zahid and Mohamad will have to defend their party positions, with former Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin today saying that party members and delegates should not be denied their right to elect a leader. 

This came after 126 Umno divisions expressed their stand on not allowing contests for the top party leadership spots.

There has been speculation that Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammudin Hussein would go for the presidency with Khairy as his running mate. 

Khairy had also recently said that he was still thinking about contesting. 

The decision not to have elections for the top two posts can be made by the Umno Supreme Council or president, but there are also recommendations that it should come from the floor as a motion during the ongoing assembly for it to be passed. – The Vibes, January 12, 2023