Umno women’s wing urges status quo for party’s two top posts

KUALA LUMPUR - A movement is brewing in Malaysia’s oldest political party Umno to prevent a contest for the top two posts in the next party election that has to be held before May 19.

The head of Umno’s women’s wing has proposed that the top two posts of party president and deputy president not be contested, as time should be given to its key leaders – president Zahid Hamidi and his deputy Mohamad Hasan – to restore the party’s position in Malaysia’s political scene.

“Let us give them space and support to restore and empower Umno, for the political survival of the party and the country,” said Umno Wanita wing chief, Dr Noraini Ahmad, at the wing’s meeting on Thursday, held in conjunction with the Umno general assembly that kicked off on Wednesday.

Once the country’s most dominant party that ruled Malaysia for 60 years, Umno now holds just over 10 per cent of Parliament seats.

On Wednesday, Wangsa Maju division chief Mohd Shafie Abdullah said 140 division chiefs have expressed solidarity and agreed that the posts of party president and deputy president should remain unchallenged. There are 191 divisions chiefs in Umno.

This comes after former Umno youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin publicly stated his intention to challenge Zahid, who is facing multiple graft charges in court, for the top party post again. Mr Khairy lost in his bid to become Umno president at its party election in 2018. 

Mr Shafie Abdullah said the party’s focus should be on strengthening its internal core to face the six state elections slated for 2023.

“In order to face six more state elections this year, we need a strong Umno, so we hope the president will take this view into account and that no top positions will be contested,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Citing concerns over more infighting, Mr Mohamad Hasan said he is ready to defend his deputy president post if challenged.

“However if possible, in the situation we are facing today where we have suffered a major defeat, it would be good if the president’s post and other positions are left uncontested,” he told reporters on Wednesday, after the Umno Wanita, Puteri and Youth wings’ assemblies kicked off.

Greeting Umno delegates in the front row as he arrived at the event hall on Thursday, Zahid stopped briefly to give Mr Khairy a firm handshake with a declaration: “Ready to fight.”

Mr Khairy – who was shunted from his three-term ward Rembau to contest – and lose – in Sungai Buloh in November’s general election – later said on Instagram: “This means he is ready to face any challengers, and the president is brave. I salute him.”

Referring to suggestions to leave the posts unchallenged, the former health minister called it “madness” for the party members to stop people from contesting.

Some Umno delegates also voiced their hopes on Thursday that all party positions should be contested. Several youth leaders cited the need for the party not to impede democracy, while Pahang Wanita Umno spokesman, Datuk Juhanis Abd Aziz, said it would be “not nice” to make just the lower positions contestable.

Earlier on Thursday, Umno information chief Isham Jalil said the party is open to any member contesting the top posts, including three vice-president positions, and that there are no plans to prevent a contest.

The chiefs of Umno’s Youth and Puteri Umno wings, who did not call for the president’s post to go unchallenged, stressed the need for unity within the party and called for “traitors” within the party to be dismissed or disciplined, without naming individuals.

They were ostensibly referring to a group of Umno leaders opposed to Zahid’s presidency, including former premier Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Mr Khairy.

“How can the people think that we are going to bring stability if our leaders are seen to be at each other’s throats,” Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said in his opening address on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Puteri Umno chief Zahida Zarik Khan said: “We cannot compromise with those who betray the party, regardless of them being normal members or those in positions, action must be taken.”

Umno’s four-day assembly concludes on Saturday.