Umno’s survival at stake if top 2 positions go uncontested, says analyst
The Umno general assembly will be held from Jan 11 to 14. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Umno’s survival and image will be at stake should the top two leadership positions go uncontested at the party polls, says an analyst.
Ariff Aizuddin Azlan of Universiti Teknologi Mara said Umno is now divided into two camps, one supporting party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and the other seeking his resignation after the party’s poor performance in the recent general election.
“It would be good if the top two positions are contested as the grassroots had called for the president to resign to restore the image of the party,” he told FMT.
Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Yunos previously proposed that a motion be tabled at the party’s general assembly next month barring anyone from contesting the presidency and deputy presidency.
Ariff said if the party presidency was up for grabs, Zahid would likely retain the position as it would be difficult for the Bagan Datuk MP to be the deputy prime minister without holding Umno’s top post.
“Given the current situation of the unity government, Zahid needs to be seen as holding a dominant position in both his party and the Cabinet as the deputy prime minister,” he said.
He did not rule out the possibility that there would be some rejection of Zahid by the grassroots, “but only by a small segment”.
He said Umno leaders had accepted the outcome of the general election and were now prioritising the success of the unity government.
Another analyst, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara, said it would be difficult for the motion to allow the party’s top two positions to go uncontested to be approved since it required a majority vote from among Umno’s 191 divisions’ grassroots to pass.
Umno’s general assembly has been postponed to Jan 11-14.
In July, the Registrar of Societies had approved the party’s application to amend its constitution and postpone its elections for up to six months after a general election, or up to 18 months from the end of its leadership’s term, whichever comes later.
Last month, Umno Supreme Council member Razlan Rafii said the party would not hold elections during the coming general assembly but they would be held six months after the conclusion of the general election.
PETALING JAYA: Umno’s survival and image will be at stake should the top two leadership positions go uncontested at the party polls, says an analyst.
Ariff Aizuddin Azlan of Universiti Teknologi Mara said Umno is now divided into two camps, one supporting party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and the other seeking his resignation after the party’s poor performance in the recent general election.
“It would be good if the top two positions are contested as the grassroots had called for the president to resign to restore the image of the party,” he told FMT.
Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Yunos previously proposed that a motion be tabled at the party’s general assembly next month barring anyone from contesting the presidency and deputy presidency.
Ariff said if the party presidency was up for grabs, Zahid would likely retain the position as it would be difficult for the Bagan Datuk MP to be the deputy prime minister without holding Umno’s top post.
“Given the current situation of the unity government, Zahid needs to be seen as holding a dominant position in both his party and the Cabinet as the deputy prime minister,” he said.
He did not rule out the possibility that there would be some rejection of Zahid by the grassroots, “but only by a small segment”.
He said Umno leaders had accepted the outcome of the general election and were now prioritising the success of the unity government.
Another analyst, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara, said it would be difficult for the motion to allow the party’s top two positions to go uncontested to be approved since it required a majority vote from among Umno’s 191 divisions’ grassroots to pass.
Umno’s general assembly has been postponed to Jan 11-14.
In July, the Registrar of Societies had approved the party’s application to amend its constitution and postpone its elections for up to six months after a general election, or up to 18 months from the end of its leadership’s term, whichever comes later.
Last month, Umno Supreme Council member Razlan Rafii said the party would not hold elections during the coming general assembly but they would be held six months after the conclusion of the general election.
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