UMNO will tomorrow amend its constitution to delay party polls till after the 15th general election (GE15) to prevent internal division, said president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

This will ensure its stability going into GE15, he added.

“The amendment aims to ensure the party’s entire strength can be mobilised, without the risk and threat of division, to face GE15,” he said in a statement today.

“It is a concerted effort and another step to empower the party in facing the challenges ahead.”

Umno will make the move at a special general meeting tomorrow.

Zahid said the Umno-PAS cooperation under Muafakat Nasional (MN) must be set aside during the national polls.

Umno has given PAS space to agree on matters contained in the MN charter, but it never materialised, he added.

PAS has allied with Bersatu, despite the MN pact, and is an official member of Perikatan Nasional.

Umno elections were due in June last year, but can be postponed up to 18 months based on its constitution.

The party has until year-end to hold its polls, and as such, needs to amend its constitution to further postpone the polls.

In March, the Umno General Assembly passed a resolution to postpone party polls to six months after GE15.

Zahid said the amendment will likely “invite unhappiness from those who have never been happy with Umno”.

“They know it will quash their dreams of seeing a split to weaken Umno.”

He denied that the amendment is aimed at strengthening his position in the party, adding that the decision to further delay party polls was made by the grassroots.

“It is something that is decided by the grassroots for the sake of party unity.” – May 14, 2022.