THE youth will lose trust in Umno now that it has been decided that there will be no contest for the party’s two top posts, Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

“The two highest positions are not to be contested. It will further reduce the trust of young people in the (egalitarian nature of) Umno and dampen their interest in us. That is worrying,” Umno vice-president Ismail tweeted today.

Yesterday the Umno general assembly passed a resolution that the positions of party president and deputy president are not to be be contested in the elections.

Terengganu Umno chairman Ahmad Said said the matter was decided by a large majority of the delegates.

“It has been approved, only a few people did not support it, 90% backed it,” Ahmad said.

Ismail, who was the prime minister before Anwar, said the youth want a party that gives equal opportunities to all.

“Young people are idealistic, they talk about rights, democracy and so on; of course they can see that what we are doing goes against all that.”

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the delegates’ decision is final.

“The decision (of the delegates) is final. As I have said before, the matter was left to the delegates to decide,” he said.  

“This was carried out in accordance with the party constitution.” – January 15, 2023.