No-contests: Umno needs assembly approval first

Analyst Kamarul Zaman Yusoff says a special general assembly is needed to reverse an earlier decision that the top two posts should not be contested.

Political analyst Kamarul Zaman Yusoff says only a general assembly can reverse a decision by a previous general assembly. (Youtube Screengrab)

PETALING JAYA: A political analyst says the Umno Supreme Council cannot arbitrarily overturn a previous decision of the party general assembly allowing the posts of president and deputy president to be filled without a contest.

Kamarul Zaman Yusoff said the decision had been approved unanimously at the previous Umno general assembly.

“This is because only an Umno general assembly can cancel a decision made by another Umno general assembly,” he said. Umno should call a special general assembly to discuss the decision. This would not be too difficult.

Umno’s current leaders have agreed to allow contests for all top leadership positions, including those of president and deputy president.

Kamarul said the Umno constitution provided that the general assembly is the party’s highest authority while the Supreme Council would administer Umno’s affairs under the authority and order of the general assembly.

“That is why any attempt to reform Umno must be in line with all the requirements contained in the Umno constitution to prevent Umno from facing a prolonged problem in the future,” he said.

Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had said last week that the Registrar of Societies had allowed Umno up to April next year to conduct its elections. -FMT