PONTIAN, July 29- The new polling format for Umno Supreme Council (MT) election, where 150,000 delegates will be given the power to choose the party leaders, will make Umno a more democratic party.
Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the new format, which was much awaited by the members at the grassroots, would also become a new benchmark for Umno election.
“We used to see some unhealthy activities during the party polls, including money politics, but with the new polling format, such activities can be reduced or eliminated because a huge number of delegates will be involved in choosing the party leaders.
“Besides, the implementation of the new polling format would prompt party leaders, including the new faces, to go to the ground more frequently, because if they don’t, the delegates at the grassroots will not know them and this would affect their chances to win the contested post in Umno Youth, Wanita, Puteri or even as MT members.”
He said this to reporters after opening the 399th branch of Bank Simpanan Nasional and attending the breaking of fast event in Benut Pontian here Saturday.
Meantime, Ahmad also reminded the 150,000 delegates to vote wisely at the supreme council election scheduled for Oct 5 as it would decide the party’s direction.
He said party members at the grassroots were also encouraged to liaise with divisional committee members to get more information, as well as complete and accurate background, about the contesting candidates.
In PORT DICKSON, Negeri Sembilan Umno information chief Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad expressed confidence that the new Umno polling format would produce leaders of high quality, truly liked and trusted by the members at the grassroots.
“The new format introduce for this year’s Umno election is indeed a good effort because the party leadership will be selected by the members at the grassroots.
“We can almost see that the new leadership will comprise high-quality leaders, who are truly liked and trusted by party members at the grassroots.
“This is another transformation made by party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,” he told Bernama after presenting Raya goodies to 175 poor people and single mothers, courtesy of Telok Kemang Umno here.
– BERNAMA
