KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s no-contest motion for the top two posts in its upcoming internal polls has been approved.
In a brief statement today, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the decision was made based on Section 70 of the Societies Act 1966, and Umno has been given an exception to Section 13(1)(c)(iv) of the same act.
According to the act, Section 70 states that “the minister may at his discretion in writing exempt any society registered under this act from all or any of the provisions of this act”.
Meanwhile, the subsections 13(1) relates to the Registrar of Societies’ (RoS) deregistration powers for certain violations.
RoS is under the purview of the Home Ministry.
Yesterday, Saifuddin said he had not seen his ministry’s approval of Umno’s no-contest motion and would need time to verify Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s claims of RoS’ approval.
Last Saturday, Zahid claimed that RoS had dispatched a letter to Umno approving the resolution after the party's general assembly had approved a no-contest motion for the top two posts.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Maslan had apparently received the letter dated March 3.
Last month, it was reported that RoS was investigating a possible violation of the party’s constitution after the motion was approved at its general assembly.
This follows complaints filed with RoS by two Umno members, alleging that the party leadership breached Article 10 of the party’s constitution by insisting that the no-contest rule is valid for the top two posts.
Among those seeking clarification is former prime minister and outgoing Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Zahid said the contests for the 25 members of the Umno Supreme Council, as well as the youth and Wanita wings will continue. – The Vibes, March 7, 2023
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