Decision on top two posts final, says Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: Insisting that he was unaware that delegates would raise the motion for the top two posts in Umno to be uncontested, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision was final.

The Umno president explained that this was because it was made by the general assembly, which is the highest decision-making body in the party.

He also denied that delegates were pressured to support the motion or that it was done because both he and deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan did not want to lose their positions.

Ahmad Zahid reiterated that both of them were unaware that such a motion would be tabled by the delegates.

“The question of us being afraid to lose our position should not arise because the decision for no contests was made by the grassroots,” he said.

Stating that he was aware that some quarters had questioned the legality of the no-contest decision, he said the matter had been referred to the party’s lawyers.

“After it was passed, I checked with our lawyer, who said that everything is in accordance with Umno’s constitution and regulations.

“So (the decision) should not be an issue, as everything is according to the constitution,” he told a press conference at the end of the Umno general assembly yesterday. Asked what would happen if some members still insisted on a contest for the president and deputy president posts, Ahmad Zahid said the matter would be left to the disciplinary board.

To a question, he said he believed this decision would not divide Umno, as the delegates had also spoken about the importance of the party remaining united in order to face external challenges and enemies.

On claims made by former Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin that delegates were “imported” to ensure the motion would be passed, the president said the disciplinary board would address the issue.

“Let the board look into this,” he said.

Khairy had alleged that there was a conspiracy by some delegates to “bulldoze” the no-contest motion in order to get it approved at the assembly.