KUALA LUMPUR – Umno is breaking its own tradition by allowing its three most senior leaders to determine the selection of the party’s candidates for the upcoming state polls in Melaka and 15th general election.
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in noting that the selections will no longer be exclusively for the party’s number one, said the process will now include prime minister and party vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, and Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
“The president will not only be the only one to finalise the candidates from the (Melaka) state elections and the next general elections,” Berita Harian quoted him as saying.
“Three people will decide on them, namely, the prime minister himself, the Umno deputy president and the Umno president, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman.”
Zahid, who is also Bagan Datuk MP – said this during his speech at the closing ceremony of the Umno presidential debate this evening.
However, he said, if the BN chairman does not agree with the decisions of the three, the letter of approval for the candidates will not be signed.
Zahid also said that the latest development shows good cooperation between the three party leaders.
He added that the three Umno leaders had agreed on the criteria for good candidates, which consist of those who are “winnable”, “acceptable”, and “likeable”.
“This is not a question of lobbying or apple polishing; the three of us have agreed on these criteria,” Zahid said. – The Vibes, October 17, 2021
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