PUTRAJAYA – Two Umno members have filed separate complaints with the Registrar of Societies (RoS), here, that the no-contest motion for the top two party posts that was passed during its recent annual general assembly (AGM) had breached the party constitution and meeting procedures.
In their complaints, Muhammad Fiqri Firdaus Muhammad Rom and Muhammad Aizat Fikri Mohd Nasir, argued that the motion was in violation of Article 9.3 of Umno’s constitution, which detailed that all positions, including the top two positions of president and deputy president, must be open to contest every three years.
“This is to ensure that the democratic practices within the party remain strong.
“This motion, which was introduced by the delegate from Rembau, has allowed people with vested interest to take advantage of the situation and subsequently weakened democracy within the party,’’ said Fiqri.
The motion was introduced in an ad hoc manner by Negri Sembilan Umno delegate Mohd Shukri Shamsudin as part of his debate on party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s policy speech.
Fiqri, who is also a party member for the Negri Sembilan chapter said the motion was never discussed at the division or branch level and did not represent the views of grassroots members.
Aizat, a member from the party’s Terengganu chapter, also explained that the motion was in breach of party procedures as any ad hoc motion introduced requires the party supreme council to explain it to the delegates and for the motion to be a matter of public interest.
“Clearly no explanation was given to the delegation on the motion and it is not a matter of public interest.
“The motion only benefits the office bearers of the top two posts,’’ he said.
Currently, Zahid holds the position of party president while Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan serves as his deputy.
Aizat then urged party members who disagree with the motion and the manner it was passed to do their part to either file their complaints with the RoS or voice their disagreement rather than staying silent.
Ultimately both members are seeking for the RoS to investigate whether there are any breaches of procedures or party regulations and to conduct a full review of the motion.
This follows after the Umno AGM was passed with a near-unanimous vote for a no-contest motion for the top two positions, despite pockets of resistance from various members throughout the AGM. – The Vibes, January 20, 2023
