8/14/2019 TheSun 2009-10-16 Page03 Changes for a More Open and Democratic Party

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3theSun | FRIDAY OCTOBER 16 2009

Umno Annual General Assembly 2009

Changes for a more openand democratic partyTHEseven amendments to the partyconstitution which were meant totransform Umno into a more openand democratic organisation wereunanimously approved by 2,541Umno delegates during an hour-longextraordinary general meeting.

All the amendments were passedby a show of hands without debate,except for the abolition of the annualmembership fee, to be replaced witha life membership fee of RM2.

The amendments were tabledby vice-president Datuk Seri His-hammuddin Hussein, who is alsochairman of the partys constitu-tional amendments committee, andseconded by Johor delegate DatukShahrir Abdul Samad.

Apart from the fee abolition, theamendments involved increasingthe number of delegates, abolish-

ment of quota system, increasing thenumber of Wanita representativesin the supreme council, division andbranch levels, setting up of a partyelection committee, authorising wingchiefs to verify new memberships,and recognising division secretariesautomatically as delegates to thegeneral assembly.

Earlier, in his speech, Hisham-muddin said the committee had beenworking on the amendments sinceMay 30 by getting feedback fromthe branches and divisions. Thesewere then discussed in several man-agement committees and supremecouncil meetings.

He said the proposed increasein the number of delegates eligibleto elect Umnos top and divisionalleaders was meant to make Umnomore inclusive and democratic byempowering grassroots members.

Once approved, this will createhistory because no leaders, especiallythose helming the countrys admin-istration, were willing to change thesystem which had actually put themin power, he said.

This is clearly a manifestation

of Umno leaders openness and de-mocracy towards the expectations ofparty members and the people.

The amendment involves a5,800% increase in the currentnumber of delegates. Previously, only2,510 delegates elected the supremecouncil members but now 146,500delegates will have their say.

Hishammuddin said the aboli-tion of the nomination quota systemwould also include minimum re-quirements for eligibility to contest.Those aspiring must have at leasta terms experience in the supremecouncil or division committee or atleast three years membership.

He said although the supremecouncil had suggested a minimumrequirement for eligibility to contestas party president and deputy presi-dent, the incumbent leaders Datuk

Seri Najib Abdul Razak and Tan SriMuhyiddin Yassin rejected it.

They were of the opinion thatthey dont need such protection andthey would not hide behind the sug-gested conditions, he said.

Four members stood up to debatethe proposal on the fee abolition Mohd Ridzuan Bakar (BayanBaru), Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin(Temerloh), Muntaha Kailan (Muar),Badarudin Ahmad (Rasah) andAdam Abdul Hamid (Kulai).

Mohd Ridzuan said the member-ship list must be cleaned up beforeall of them were accepted automati-cally as Umno members because heclaimed, in some cases, the namesof Parti Keadilan Rakyat memberswere still included.

Muntaha said the life membershipfee should be raised to at least RM10to give it better value while MohdSharkar said party leaders shouldnot hesitate to remove membersfound supporting the Opposition.

Adam, meanwhile, raised the is-sue of having to meet the quorum ofone quarter members during branchand divisional meetings.

(From left)Gerakanpresident TanSri Dr KohTsu Koon,SarawakUnitedPeoplesPartypresidentTan Sri DrGeorge Chan,Parti PesakaBumiputeraBersatupresidentTan Sri AbdulTaib Mahmudand MICpresidentDatuk SeriS. Samy Velluat the AGMyesterday.

BN components told to emulate UmnoUMNO deputy president Tan SriMuhyiddin Yassin wants BarisanNasional (BN) component parties toemulate Umno in initiating changesto their parties.

Muhyiddin, who is also BN

deputy chairman, said Umno as thecore party of the ruling coalition, hadtaken a significant step to be moredemocratic by amending its partyconstitution.

Umno is heading the process ofchange and we hope component par-ties in BN would also follow suit witha similar process, said Muhyiddin.

He said changes in BN compo-nent parties would make BN much

stronger and more acceptable to thepeople.If BN is to be accepted by the

people, then a similar process ofchange must take place in BN com-

ponent parties.Muhyiddin said the process of

change in the respective partiesshould include changes to the leader-ship structure, political programmesas well as other aspects such as

issues on integrity and relationshipwith the public.Umno has taken the first step to

change, and component parties mustfollow up.

The role of component partiescannot be seen as separate (fromUmno) as each had its own roles toplay, said Muhyiddin.

If we (Umno) can change but theothers dont change, then it will be

difficult to get the people to supportBN because they will look at us asbeing unable to change, he said.

On anothernote, Muhy-

iddin said proper mechanisms andsystems would be drawn up to man-age the consequential changes asa result of the partys constitutionalamendments.

He said there would be no prob-

lems in handling the large numberof delegates eligible to vote, as wellas other issues that may arise fromthe amendments, once the propermechanisms were in place.

Paving the way for huge transformationTHIS isjust the beginning but it is a signthat there is effort and initiative to change.There is a long road to travel in transformingUmno, said Umno vice-president Datuk SeriHishammuddin Hussein.

Hishammuddin was commenting on theproposed amendments to the party consti-tution which paves the way for the partyshuge transformation. He also said that thechanges will make it more attractive to thepublic.

The strong unity in voting for the pro-posed amendments shows that the partymembers realise the need for change. Therewas strong unity in accepting the amend-ments and this shows members clearlyrealise Umnos needs to change, he said.

Hishammuddin said there were manychanges in how Prime Minister Datuk SeriNajib Abdul Razak led the government andthe party in realising this change. He furthersaid there should be different approaches indealing with the different amendments.

In response to former premier Tun DrMahathir Mohamads comment that moneypolitics cannot be eradicated with theamendments to the constitution, Hisham-muddin said: Of course, its true. It has beensaid many times, but this is not just a changein that sense but also change in attitude,value and mindset of Umno in dealing withissues.

Meanwhile, Umno vice-president DatukSeri Shafie Apdal said the amendments

would mean a wider-based participationfrom party members in the selection ofleaders at all levels.

He also said the changes include genderinterests with contributions from Wanita,Pemuda and Puteri wings.

This means regeneration of leadershipsin the party, he said.

Wanita chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil saidthe changes would give the wing strength towork hard in order to win big at the 13thgeneral election.

It also means about 22,000 committeemembers at grassroots level will enter themainstream political arena. It is not justWanitas fight in Umno but also Wanitasfight in the political arena, said Shahrizat.

Party must fight 3LSABAHs Putatan chief Datuk Seri Panglima YahyaHussin said that while the public were concernedwith Influenza A(H1N1), Umno members shouldbe worried the party would be plagued by a dis-ease called 3L lagak, laga and lagho (showingoff, infighting and complacency).

The public is worried about H1N1 but weshould be worried about the 3L that can de-stroy Umno, he said during the debate on thepresidential speech.

Arrogance and showing off can put off vot-ers, infighting can destroy and weaken us andallow the enemy to penetrate, and complacencyand lack of a sense of urgency can result in theenemy defeating us, he said.

Yahya said Umno members should learnfrom the party president and Prime MinisterDatuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak who, despite hold-ing the top posts, did the dishes during a recentgathering for party members in Janda Baik.

This is the type of service-oriented andhumble leadership that will help us regainthe support of the rakyat (people) in the nextgeneral election which I think will be do-or-diebattle for Umno, he added.

DELEGATES UNANIMOUSLY APPROVE

AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

The amendments toUmnos constitution

The number of delegates who elect thetop party officials to increase from the 2,510to 146,500.

The introduction of a registration system toreplace the nomination quota system. Those

wanting to contest top party posts will haveto be committee members at the divisionallevel for at least one term.

The appointment of Wanita Umno repre-sentatives to take up seats on committees atthe branch, divisional and supreme councillevels. This amendment raises the numberof appointed members, from 12 to 13 on thesupreme council, from seven to eight on thedivisional committees, and from five to six onthe branch committees.

The elections at the divisional and toplevels will be held simultaneously, and anUmno elections committee would be set upto supervise the elections in terms of logisticsand cost. The party president will appointcommittee members.

The abolition of the annual membershipfee and its replacement with a life member-ship fee.

Umno Youth, Wanita Umno and PuteriUmno chiefs given the mandate to verify newmembership at branch level.

Recognising divisional secretaries auto-matically as delegates to the Umno generalassembly.

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Hishammuddin(left) andBadarudinwith thebook on theproposedamendmentsin DewanMerdeka,PWTC