THE posts of Umno president and deputy president should be contested to fulfil the grassroots’ aspiration to see leaders continue the fight for the party’s struggles.

Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research political analyst Azmi Hassan said the contest is made even more necessary by allegations that Umno’s dismal performance in the general election was because of its president. 

“If the posts were not contested and the president and deputy president remain unchanged, the pressure for the top two leaders to step down will persist and Umno will never be rehabilitated. 

“But if contested, and the top two leaders win and retain their seats, then it will prove that Umno grassroots really want the current leadership to continue to lead,” he told Bernama today. 

Azmi said it would also stop the pressure on the president and deputy president in discharging their duties. 

Another political analyst, Prof Sivamurugan Pandian from Universiti Sains Malaysia, said the contest for the top two posts should be allowed to preserve the democratic process, in line with the party’s constitution. 

He said the legitimacy of the incumbents, if proven through the contest, would silence anyone who tries to question it later. 

“This can also be a message to all members and those outside the party to move forward and adapt to the latest political developments. 

“If someone continues to question it, it will bring about disharmony and issues of solidarity, and the party must tackle this wisely so the young members and voters can see there are no restrictions in the party. It will show that political integrity is being upheld and that the party is on the right track,” he said. 

He said Umno delegates can decide not to have the contest, but the political reality proves it is vital for the party to make changes and undertake reforms. 

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Prof Kartini Aboo Talib @ Khalid, on the other hand, said the two posts should be contested so the fear of power abuse among party leaders can be minimised. 

“It will also give opportunities to young members and new faces to hold top posts in the party,” she said.

The post of Umno president is currently held by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, while the post of deputy president is held by Defence Minister Mohamad Hasan, who is also BN deputy chairman.

Supreme Council seats and three vice-president positions – currently held by Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Mahdzir Khalid – are also usually contested in party polls.

In July, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the Registrar of Societies had approved Umno’s application for an amendment to its constitution to allow party polls at all levels to be held no more than six months after a general election. – Bernama, December 29, 2022.