UMNO has yet to make a decision on whether to stop the top two posts from being challenged in the coming party polls, its secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said.

He said the Supreme Council has yet to make any decision but would have two opportunities in the coming weeks to decide if the president and his deputy should be allowed to retain the positions without a challenge.

Umno is set to hold its party polls next month and there have been calls made by some members and leaders that the top two posts should not be challenged.

“In January, the Supreme Council will hold its monthly meeting as usual and another special meeting will take place on January 12, a day before the general assembly. 

“Maybe it will be decided at the special meeting,” said Maslan, as reported in Berita Harian today.

In recent weeks, Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Yunos and Pasir Salak Umno deputy chief Khairul Azwan Harun, among others, had suggested that the two top posts should not be contested.

They said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Mohamad Hasan should be retained as president and deputy president for another term, which would mean they would be leading the party into the next general election.

Both won their respective posts after facing challenges in the last party elections in 2018, right after both Umno and Barisan Nasional were defeated in the 2018 general election.

Since then, Zahid has faced severe criticism from some factions in the party. His critics were also unhappy with his decision to support Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan to form the federal government after the general election.

Zahid is now a deputy prime minister in Anwar’s cabinet. He also holds the rural and regional development portfolio. Mohamad has been made defence minister.

At the same time, most of Zahid’s critics had been denied seats in the last national polls or had been sacked from the party.

Former Supreme Council member Nazri Aziz, meanwhile, has been reported as saying that Umno should allow for contests for the top two posts.

Umno was originally to hold its general assembly from December 21 to 24. It was postponed to January 11-14. – December 26, 2022.