Thursday, October 15, 2009

Umno Passes Key Motions to Save Party


KUALA LUMPUR - Thursday, 15 October 2009 -Umno delegates have passed all seven amendments to their constitution including enlarging the voting base for electing top party leaders.

“This amendment is historic because no leader, who is running a country, would be willing to change a system that puts him in power,” said vice president Hishammuddin Hussein.

Breakthrough changes

The seven main resolutions were:

• The number of delegates who elect the top party officials to increase from the 2,510 delegates to 146,500.

• The introduction of a registration system to replace the nomination quota system. (Those wanting to contest top party post will have to be committee members at the divisional level for at least one term).

• The appointment of Wanita Umno representatives to take up seats on committees at the branch, divisional and supreme council levels. (This proposed amendment raises the number of appointed members, from 12 to 13 on the supreme council, from seven to eight on the divisional committees, and from five to six on the branch committees.)

• The elections at the divisional and top levels will be held simultaneously, and as such an Umno elections committee would be set up to supervise the elections in terms of logistics and cost. (Members of this committee will be appointed by the party president.)

• The abolition of the annual membership fee and its replacement with a life membership fee.

• Giving the mandate to the Umno Youth, Wanita Umno and Puteri Umno chiefs at the branch level to verify new membership.

• Recognising divisional secretaries automatically as delegates to the Umno general assembly.

According to Hishammuddin, the changes will allow delegates at division meetings including three chiefs of Umno wings at branch level to vote at party elections.

A special committee will also be formed to handle party elections in the future, he added. - Malaysian Mirror

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