KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10- The new election system to be introduced by Umno in October should be seen as an election in the family to determine its leadership, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
He said the new system was aimed at putting the house in better order and strengthening the party and not to split its members.
“What is important for us is that this contest will strengthen the party and not to weaken or break it up as it will be detrimental to the party,” he said after witnessing the signing of an ‘Integrity Pledge’ between Felcra Berhad and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Shafie, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, believed that about 140,000 Umno delegates would be voting in the coming party election to select the leadership based on their capabilities and the concept of rejuvenation.
On the announcement by Felda Global Ventures chairman Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad and former Melaka chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam to contest for the Umno vice-president post, Shafie who will be defending his post said he respected their decision to contest.
“They are colleagues. They also have their own edge and capabilities,” he said.
As for him, Shafie said his cooperation with the two other vice-presidents Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi built since the last party election had worked like a sleek football team.
He said the election this time would see greater transparency in the absence of money politics as 140,000 delegates from more than 20,000 Umno branches nationwide would be voting.
In the October election, the grassroot delegates from 191 divisions will be electing the president, deputy president, three vice-presidents, 25 Supreme Council members and members of the divisional committees.
In BENTONG, at a gathering with media members held at the Municipal Council hall, Shafie reminded those vying for posts to ensure the contests would be healthy and conducted in the family spirit.
“We should never repeat what happened to the ruling Conservative Party in Britain when John Major defeated Margaret Thatcher to become prime minister only for the party to later lose to the Labour Party in the general election,” he said.
– BERNAMA
