Umno leaders divided over call to abolish nomination quota

PUTRAJAYA: Umno supreme council members are divided over the proposal to abolish the nomination quota to contest top posts in the party.

While Datuk Shafie Apdal and Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad have thrown their support for vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s proposal, others have either opposed it or called for debates to be made behind closed doors.

"Is a contest really about putting oneself to work hard for the party, or is it about intending to put your name in the history books because you once challenged the party president?" - DATUK NOH OMAR

Shafie said the system was initially set up to ensure not just anyone would become party leader.

He said that when the system was established, it was assumed that party delegates would not be wise enough to make the right choice among candidates for the top leadership.

“The rationale then was that there must be proper people who were going to be nominated as candidates in party elections,” he said.

“But as Tan Sri Muhyiddin has indicated, if we know the current procedure has to be amended to suit the demands and needs for the future, why not?”

Shahrir said he had been championing the cause from the start.

“I am sure there are provisions in the party’s constitution to do away with the nomination quota without having to call for an extraordinary general meeting. And I feel that this system should not be used in the coming party elections,” he said.

Datuk Noh Omar said he felt that the quota system should stay, as it reflected the strong support from the grassroots for the candidate, which would provide political strength to the party.

“If we have only two nominations for someone being eligible

to contest, then questions will arise of the person’s intentions,” Noh said.

“Is a contest really about putting oneself to work hard for the party, or is it about intending to put your name in the history books because you once challenged the party president?”

Datuk Mustapa Mohamad, another supreme council member, said the issue should be debated behind closed doors.

“If we issue statements publicly we will get tied with those views and it can be a big embarrassment if we have to back-track or eat your words, so to speak,” he said.

He said it was important to get grassroots views but it should be channelled via the division chiefs and later discussed at the supreme council instead of doing it via the media.

Datuk Annuar Musa said Umno should not be unduly alarmed that members are speaking out on various party matters like the quota system.

“We should feel the pulse of Umno members. All this is part and parcel of the rejuvenation process,” he said.

Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the system was established to avoid splits within the party and for candidates of calibre to contest.

“But if members are of the view that the system is not fulfilling its original aim, Umno Youth will abide by the decision.

“What is most important is that members must be brave and open when choosing the leader,” he said.

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