Zahid: All Umno positions, including president, open for contest

KUALA LUMPUR: All Umno positions right up to the presidency will be open for contest at the next party elections.

The was decided by the party's supreme council during its meeting today and later announced by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).

“So now there is no question that there is no contest for certain positions in Umno,” said Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is carrying out the duties of the party president, at a media conference after chairing the meeting.

The Umno supreme council in December last year had decided that the top two positions in the party, namely that of the president and the deputy president, should not be contested.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said that he and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who is carrying out the duties of the Umno deputy president, both felt that there should be contests for all positions in the party as long as the candidates were qualified in accordance with party rules.

Party secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said Umno branches will hold their elections during their annual meetings that will take place from May 19 to June 10.

Those who wish to contest for top party positions in the supreme council will have to file their nomination papers from June 1 to June 17.

The election date for the party's top positions has yet to be announced.

On another matter, Dr Ahmad Zahid said that Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has been tasked with outlining options on how Umno and Barisan Nasional can be restructured.

Khairy said that he will present several options within one month after taking into account feedback from Umno and Barisan component party leaders and members.

“We will outline some options to Barisan and Umno in terms of ideology, structure and so on. We will be as inclusive as possible in getting all views from Barisan and Umno,” he said.