‘Amend constitution to have acting deputy president’

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has proposed that amendments be made to Umno’s constitution to allow the creation of the position of an acting party deputy president.

As of now, the Umno constitution is silent on the matter.

Dr Ahmad Zahid is Umno vice-president carrying out the duties of the deputy party president.

He added that the matter would be brought up at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to amend several clauses to the party’s constitution, including the position of an acting deputy president.

“The matter will be brought to our management meeting before it is forwarded to the supreme council for approval.

“If the supreme council approves the idea, we will present the proposal if needed to during the EGM,” he told reporters after closing the “Strengthening the Ummah Agenda 2.0” convention here yesterday.

Dr Ahmad Zahid explained that Umno had faced some “difficulties” in the past, including the time when the party was under the leadership of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

For example, if the position of the Umno Youth chief was vacated, there is a clause in the movement’s constitution stating that the deputy chief will take over his task.

“However, this is not stated in the party’s constitution,” he added.

He also denied allegations that the motions expected to be tabled at the upcoming Umno general assembly were pre-determined by the top leadership.

“We have never controlled any of the speakers, but we just make sure that they follow the party constitution.

Dr Ahmad Zahid also revealed that all Umno members will wear blue attire during the opening of the assembly on Dec 1 to show solidarity with the other Barisan Nasional component parties.