Khairy suggests two more Umno VP posts for women, Sabah

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin will propose an additional vicepresidential post each to represent women, and Sabah, in the event he was elected party president on June 30.

The Rembau MP said the proposal was important to nurture democratic practices within the 72-year-old party.

Speaking at a press conference in the Umno headquarters here yesterday, he said currently, there appeared to be a “glass ceiling” for women in the party.

“There will be a women’s head (equivalent to a vice-presidential post) who will take care of the wings, while another can contest until the vice-presidential stage,” he said, adding the need to create the posts was to recognise women as leaders at national level, as well as to help reach 30 percent of the group’s involvement in the party’s top leadership.

For the vice-president’s post for Sabah, Khairy said it was aimed at safeguarding the positions of Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the state, as well as respecting the foundations of the country.

Currently, there are three vice-presidents in the Umno organisational structure.

Khairy is among seven candidates contesting for the party’s presidency, besides two big names, namely vice-president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is also carrying out the duty of Umno president, and Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Khairy, a former youth and sports minister, said the new task of the new Umno president would be to form a cabinet before the start of the parliamentary session, scheduled for July 16.

“They will be given the task of ensuring that government ministers are always accountable and that the effort was not just the appearance of BN and Umno as an authoritative opposition but as the first step to become a credible alternative government,” he noted.

Touching on the party president’s post that was now open for contest, he proposed that no further resolution be made against contesting for the party’s main posts and the election should be held every three years without delay.

“You must not shield the president from healthy contests in the party, the leadership must continuously be accountable and ready to face any challenges,” he said, stressing that the selected leader must be able to carry out his responsibility (deliver) in the stipulated term.

The Umno Youth chief also gave the assurance that the voice of the grassroots would be heard, including reprimands against party leaders could be made without fear of being punished.