ZAHID: UMNO AMENDMENT NOT DONE TO SAVE MY POSITION
Change to delay party election carried out following motions proposed by divisions, says party president
UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi rejected suggestions that the amendment to Article 10.16 of Umno’s constitution was done to strengthen his position in the party.
He said the amendment was made following motions previously proposed by Umno divisions themselves.
“I have heard murmurs that this amendment is meant to save my position as president. I want to stress that this is untrue.
“It is unfortunate if there are those among us who share this narrow view.
“Let’s not pretend to forget that the push for the party election to be held only after the 15th General Election (GE15) was from motions by the majority of divisions that had completed their own meetings.
“The grassroots’ decision was taken to the 2021 Umno General Assembly in March before it was approved,” he said at the Umno Special General Assembly at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The assembly was held to approve an amendment to Article 10.16 of the Umno constitution, which allows the party to extend party elections to six months after the general election concludes.
Zahid said the amendment was the manifestation of the grassroots’ voices.
“I am sure that you wish to see our party on solid ground.
“I wish to stress that this amendment will give room to teams from the central leadership, divisions and branches to focus on the general election.”
He said by cementing the amendment, it meant that the leadership at all levels now formed the team that would help the party face GE15.
He said once GE15 concluded, the party election would be held and a new team would be selected.
“The new team will have a maximum of five years to focus their energy and work on the people and at the same time, preserve party stability to face the elections.”
The amendment was unanimously passed by 2,586 delegates from 192 divisions.
Meanwhile, Zahid said Umno agreed that Sapura Energy Bhd (Sapura Energy) should be bailed out to prevent it from going bankrupt.
He agreed that a forensic audit should be done on the company, as proposed during last Thursday’s debate between PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Zahid said the company’s equity holders must participate in the move.
He said this was because there were more than 10 million Amanah Saham Nasional shareholders who held a stake in the company.
“PNB (Permodalan Nasional Bhd) has invested more than RM5 billion. The company employs more than 10,000 workers and 3,000 vendors.
“Without the need to use government funds directly, Petronas is the reasonable choice to take the company over and do a Uturn.”
He said the effort to save Sapura Energy was in line with Umno’s wish to see the Malay and Bumiputera agenda become a government agenda.