KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s party polls will be held by this year, irrespective of whether the Perikatan Nasional government dissolves Parliament in August, after the state of emergency is expected to end.
Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had given his word that party polls will take place this year, Umno will not wait for another 18 months to hold it.
“Based on our timeline, if there is no general election in August, we will start polling for branches and divisions this year,” he told reporters after the Let’s Register for Covid-19 Vaccine campaign in Seremban yesterday.
Any decision to expedite the party’s election at this time will lead to a split, he said, adding that opposition parties may seize the opportunity to damage Umno’s reputation.
“In terms of party management, we have a timeline; we are not saying that we want to wait for 18 months. That’s why we want to see the 15th general election (GE15) held in August.
“After the Umno general assembly (last weekend), we were given a postponement period of 18 months, but the actual staging of the polls is not likely to require the full extent of that period even though it is allowed by the Umno constitution.”
Mohamad, who is also Rantau assemblyman, said his priority is to face GE15 rather than defending his position in Umno in the party polls.
In the meantime, he advised Umno leaders against issuing any statements that may worsen the situation in the party.
“I call upon all party leaders to stop issuing statements that will make things look bad. Take at least a week’s break. If things cannot be made better, let’s not make it worse.”
Speculation over Umno polls were raised days following the party’s general assembly, amid concerns of postponement and no party polls this year as scheduled. The last time Umno held its internal polls was on June 30, 2018.
On March 30, Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin urged the Umno Supreme Council to hold party polls soon to resolve its current internal turmoil.
In a short statement released on his social media platforms, he said the party polls should be held this year as the leadership would not do well to postpone it after GE15.
“Umno must go into the general election with a leadership that has a clear mandate and is able to get support from the people.
“Do the right thing, Majlis Tertinggi (Supreme Council). You know we cannot continue like this,” said the science, technology and innovation minister. – The Vibes, April 4, 2021
