Umno members lodge report with ROS over no-contest motion

PUTRAJAYA: A report has been lodged with the Registrar of Societies over a possible violation of the Umno constitution regarding the no-contest motion for the top two party positions.

The report was lodged by Muhammad Aizat Fikri Mohd Nasir, a party member from Terengganu, who claimed that the motion, which was adopted at the Umno general assembly last week, had contravened party regulations.

For one, he said that Clause 9.3 of the Umno constitution stated that the positions of president and deputy president must be elected at the division meetings every three years.

“This is to ensure democracy is alive and well in Umno,” he said.

Aizat Fikri also said the no-contest move was an additional motion raised at the assembly, and according to party rules, a notice of 14 days must be given before a motion can be tabled.

“But delegates did not receive a notice that this motion would be raised at the assembly,” he told reporters yesterday after handing over to ROS a notice to object to the general assembly’s decision.

Asked whether he might face disciplinary action for doing this, Aizat Fikri said he would leave it to the Umno leadership to decide.

“If we fight the right cause, God willing, there will be no problem,” he added.

A similar complaint was lodged by a Negri Sembilan Umno member, Muhammad Fiqri Firdaus Muhammad Rom, who said he was not directed to lodge the complaint but was doing so to exercise his rights as a party member.

The notice was handed over to RoS director-general Mohd Nawardi Saad.

Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the president of Umno, and Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, the secretary-general of the party, were not available for comment.

At the Umno general assembly last week, delegates agreed to a motion for the top two party posts not to be contested in the coming party polls.

This means Ahmad Zahid and Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will remain as Umno president and deputy president, respectively, for another term.

Party polls are to be held before May 19, six months after the conclusion of the 15th General Election.