THE Registrar of Societies (RoS) had agreed in principle to allow Umno to postpone its party elections, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said today.
 
The Pontian MP said at a virtual press conference today that Umno was advised by its lawyer that it only needed to notify RoS on the decision made by its Supreme Council members.

“RoS said that there was no problem with Umno’s decision to adjourn its party elections and this was confirmed by both parties in an exchange of several official letters.
 
“The legal adviser for Umno advised the party that any decision can only come from the Supreme Council and that RoS only needed to be notified,” said Ahmad this evening.
 
This is Umno’s first official reaction following the RoS’ announcement that the party’s decision to postpone its elections is invalid.
 
RoS director-general Jasri Kasim said the finding was based on the Umno Supreme Council’s decision at a meeting to postpone the supreme council, division, and branch elections, which was scheduled to take place on July 7. 

“The decision (by Umno) is invalid because the term of the supreme council officer bearers for 2018/2021 had ended on June 30,” he was quoted as saying.

Ahmad said Umno also sought the advice of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Security Council (NSC) in reaching that decision.
 
He explained that at an Umno Supreme Council meeting on February 19, 2021, its members elected to postpone the party elections.

Later on, at another meeting on April 25, 2021, the council members agreed to consult and seek the views of the RoS and the NSC on the conduct of party elections during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The NSC and the MoH suggested that if it is impossible for virtual party elections to be held, then the polls should be postponed to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus,” the statement said. 

Ahmad also said that the RoS did not object to the postponement of Umno’s party elections, and that the decision is in line with Clause 10.16 of the party’s constitution.

“Therefore, the issue raised by RoS in a letter dated August 6 declaring that the term of the Supreme Council office bearers for 2018/2021 has expired on 30 June 2021 is no longer relevant,” he added.

Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan also questioned the RoS’ logic behind invalidating the party’s decision to postpone its elections.
 
The RoS’ decision was described as “inexplicable” by Shahril, who said that Umno cannot hold elections that will involve 20,000 branches during an epidemic and when the country is logging tens of thousands of Covid-19 cases daily.
 
Yesterday, former Umno president Najib Razak slammed the RoS’ decision, saying it also had the effect of nullifying the Umno Supreme Council.

Najib accused the Perikatan Nasional government of using the RoS as a tool against Umno, which had earlier this week ordered its MPs to immediately withdraw support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. – August 7, 2021.