UMNO will decide during the fasting month if the party will hold its election or postpone it to after the general election, said Ahmad Maslan.

The party secretary-general said its Supreme Council will hold a meeting to discuss the matter during Ramadan, which is expected to begin on Tuesday.

“We have not set the date yet (for the meeting). I think, at the meeting, it will be decided when we will hold a party election,” he said in an interview with the party’s portal, Umno Online.

“Whether or not there will be a party election, it depends on the Supreme Council. According to the Umno constitution, the Supreme Council has the right to decide.”

The current three-year term for its leadership is set to end on June 30. But the Umno constitution allows the Supreme Council to postpone the election for a period of not more than 18 months from the scheduled date it was to be held.

In the past, the party had postponed the election if it was to be held on the eve of a general election.

The call for party polls in recent weeks has gained ground with Rembau Member of Parliament Khairy Jamaluddin calling for the Umno leadership to bring forward the party election this year in order to resolve the party’s internal problems.

He was supported by Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who said the polls should be brought forward on condition that party leaders holding positions in the government resign from their posts.

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, speaking at the 2020 Umno General Assembly two week ago, said the party polls should be held this year but priority should be given to the 15th general election (GE15).

However, former party president and Pekan MP Najib Razak has said holding the polls before GE15 could lead to splits in the party and allow other parties to “steal” the losing candidates.

He added that many quarters are waiting for an opportunity to weaken the party this way.

“They (other parties) will wait for the election in Umno, so splinters from the losing side will be invited or persuaded or offered to join their party,” he said.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has said he would call for a general election as soon as the Covid-19 pandemic is under control. – April 11, 2021.