TAPAH, July 29- The Umno constitution amendments involving the divisional committee, Supreme Council and top party post elections, which allow anyone to contest, should not be a licence for party members to jostle for the posts, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said this was because all Umno leaders and members needed to maintain the party’s dignity, so with the more democratic party elections they should instead be motivated to continue strengthening the party.
“I hope the party members will choose those who really qualify to lead…and those contesting should be really qualified to hold the party posts they contest for,” he told reporters when met at the Tapah parliamentary constituency Ihya Ramadan programme at Al-Mukmin Mosque, Batu Tiga, here, last night.
He said what was more important was for anyone contesting a party post, to do so in a healthy manner and in the spirit of the Umno family.
“The party constitution has been amended so that we can have more democratic and transparent elections and to prevent money politics. I hope those contesting will uphold the party’s principles.”
Khairy, who is also Youth and Sports Minister, said the party elections should also not be marred by personal attacks and dirty strategies by any contestant and their supporters in the interest of the party’s image and unity.
Asked whether he would defend his current party post or contest for a Supreme Council post, he said: “I don’t know yet. Let’s see…I may defend my Umno Youth head post, contest another post or not contest at all.”
At the Supreme Council meeting last Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Umno president, announced that the contest for the Supreme Council posts would be held simultaneously with the respective divisional annual delegates meetings on Oct 5.
More than 150,000 Umno delegates from 191 divisions nationwide will choose the candidates for the top party posts this time compared to only 2,500 delegates previously.
The contests for the top posts in the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings will be held separately on Sept 28 and the Umno General Assembly from Dec 2 to 7.
– BERNAMA
