Why change tradition, Umno has always prioritised GE ahead of party polls, says Ahmad Zahid

Umno President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has always focused on national-level general elections before it conducts internal polls, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“This has been the practice for years. Is it reasonable to change this tradition?” the party president said in his presidential address at the Umno general assembly on Friday (March 18).

He also said the decision to hold Umno polls after the general election was not made unilaterally, saying that 186 out of 190 Umno divisions had agreed in earlier meetings that party elections should be held after the national polls.

“This was not my decision. This was the decision of delegates at their respective division meetings,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said all posts could be contested by anyone.

“If Tok Mat (Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan) wants to, he can contest the presidency,” he said.

On the special withdrawal of Employment Provident Fund savings, Ahmad Zahid thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yakaon for allowing contributors the opportunity.

Earlier, Ahmad Zahid began his presidential address by calling for a standing ovation for Johor Umno chief Datuk Seri Hasni Mohamad.

“Let us all give a standing ovation for the Johor chief for a job well done in the state election.

“We also congratulate the new Mentri Besar (Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi),” he said.

Barisan Nasional won 40 out of 56 seats in the state assembly in the March 12 polls.

Despite Barisan having named Hasni as its choice for mentri besar, Onn Hafiz was eventually sworn in for the job.