KUALA LUMPUR – The government’s move to declare Umno’s election delay invalid may be a “desperate” attempt to pressure and weaken the party, said president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He also questioned whether the Umno MPs who backed prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin agreed with the Registrar of Societies’ decision to nullify the postponement due to the expiry of the Supreme Council office-bearer term for 2018-2021.
“God willing, Umno will not remain silent. Umno knows what needs to be done. But how about Umno MPs who still support the PN government?” Zahid asked on Facebook earlier today.
“Are they defending the PN government led by Bersatu in agreeing with the government’s actions towards their own party?”
He also urged the PN-friendly Umno MPs to “open their eyes” and “return to the true political struggle” for the people and country.
On Friday, RoS director-general Jasri Kasim said the decision was made based on Supreme Council meeting minutes, adding that the delay is invalid because the Supreme Council office-bearers’ terms for 2018-2021 ended on June 30.
Yesterday, secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the absolute power to determine whether Umno can delay its polls for another 18 months, in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic, rests with the party’s Supreme Council.
Ahmad also said the National Security Council and Health Ministry also suggested for Umno to delay its party elections if a virtual poll could not be held, referring to letters dated June 11 and May 10.
“The RoS acknowledged receiving a letter from Umno dated June 24, 2021, through a letter by the RoS dated July 19, 2021, which among others stated that the RoS has no problems with Umno delaying its elections as this is in line with Article 10.16 of Umno’s constitution.
“The decision by the Supreme Council on July 7, 2021, informing the RoS through a letter dated July 30, 2021, was only to make the council’s decision official, which was first made through a circular resolution dated June 18, 2021.
“Umno’s lawyers’ interpretation of Article 10.16 of the party’s constitution is clear – it states that the absolute power to delay Umno’s elections belongs to the Supreme Council and therefore, Umno only needs to inform the RoS.”
He added that the matter of term expiry raised by the RoS in its letter dated August 6, 2021 is no longer an issue.
Zahid reiterated points raised by Ahmad, saying that the polls could not be done online due to technical concerns.
He also said that the election must be postponed to a date when the Covid-19 pandemic has been brought under control.
“This is based on the fact that Umno has never implemented meetings and assemblies with online elections at all levels,” Zahid said.
“The utmost concern is that there will be technical mistakes besides the difficulty faced from internet coverage in rural areas.”
Zahid added that delaying Umno’s polls could not be likened to the postponement of parliamentary sittings, as the former involved 66,287 meetings and 3.3 million Umno members at branch levels.
He also said there were 764 other meetings to be held involving all divisions and the Wanita, Youth, and Puteri wings. – The Vibes, August 8, 2021
