‘Umno polls must be every three years’

Leaving leadership uncontested would discourage accountability, says Khairy

PETALING JAYA: Umno must have its party polls triennially and not allow its president’s post to win uncontested, says outgoing Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

The party, he said, should not postpone its elections any more as such a move would not encourage accountability in the party.

“We must have (party) elections every three years so that the voice of the grassroots members will be heard by the president.

“If we blindly support and protect the president, this is what happens. We must learn from this.

“I don’t blame the leadership. It is a ‘collective responsibility’ from all of us, including me,” he said in a Sinar Harian Facebook live interview with Karangkraf Media Group editorial adviser Datuk Abd Jalil Ali yesterday.

Khairy said Umno gave unconditional support to its president but that only caused more anger and concern among the public.

He is up against four other contenders in the battle for the Umno presidency on June 30.

Among them are Kelantan prince Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the vice-president who is handling the duties of the president following Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s resignation last month.

The other challengers are Mohamed Iqbal Maricair and Mohd Yusof

Musa @ Jamaluddin.

Should he win, Khairy said preparations for the Parliament session would be top among his agenda.

This, he said, was to prepare Umno to face the Pakatan Harapanled government in the Dewan Rakyat.

“The people want to see if Umno and Barisan Nasional have awakened from its defeat in the general election.

“I will form a shadow Cabinet as soon as possible so we will look more organised and structured.

“This will enable us to fulfil the wishes of the rakyat to have a more credible Opposition that can ensure that the current Government is held accountable,” he said.

The first session of the Dewan Rakyat, after the 14th General Election, will begin on July 16.

Khairy said the formation of a shadow Cabinet would also show that Barisan accepted its role as the Opposition and be an effective one at that.

“This is what the people want in a two-party system,” he added.

Khairy also said that he would direct Barisan senators to support Pakatan’s legal reforms if they were beneficial for the rakyat.

Although Barisan no longer had the majority in the Dewan Rakyat, it still controlled the Senate, he said.

“If I become Opposition leader, I will not oppose simply for the sake of opposing. We must be constructive in our opposition,” he said.

Citing the Sales and Services Tax that will replace the Goods and Services Tax, Khairy said he would direct Barisan senators to pass the Bill.

“I don’t agree with it but if we don’t (allow it), then it is the public who will suffer as the Government would lose its revenue,” he said.

If we blindly support the president, this is what happens. We must learn from this. Khairy Jamaluddin