theSun | FRIDAY OCTOBER 16 2009 3

Umno Annual General Assembly 2009

BN components told to emulate Umno

UMNO deputy president Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin wants Barisan
Nasional (BN) component parties to
emulate Umno in initiating changes
to their parties.
Muhyiddin, who is also BN
deputy chairman, said Umno as the
core party of the ruling coalition, had
taken a significant step to be more
democratic by amending its party
constitution.
“Umno is heading the process of
change and we hope component par-
ties in BN would also follow suit with
a similar process,” said Muhyiddin.
He said changes in BN compo-
nent parties would make BN much
stronger and more acceptable to the
people.
“If BN is to be accepted by the
people, then a similar process of
change must take place in BN com-
ponent parties.
Muhyiddin said the process of
change in the respective parties
should include changes to the leader-
ship structure, political programmes
as well as other aspects such as
issues on integrity and relationship
with the public.
“Umno has taken the first step to
change, and component parties must
follow up.
“The role of component parties
cannot be seen as separate (from
Umno) as each had its own roles to
play,” said Muhyiddin.
“If we (Umno) can change but the
others don’t change, then it will be
difficult to get the people to support
BN … because they will look at us as
being unable to change,” he said.
On another
note, Muhy-
iddin said proper mechanisms and
systems would be drawn up to man-
age the “consequential changes” as
a result of the party’s constitutional
amendments.
He said there would be no prob-
lems in handling the large number
of delegates eligible to vote, as well
as other issues that may arise from
the amendments, once the proper
mechanisms were in place.

Changes for a more open Hishammuddin

(left) and
Badarudin
with the

and democratic party

book on the
proposed
amendments
in Dewan
Merdeka,
PWTC

DELEGATES UNANIMOUSLY APPROVE

AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION
THE seven amendments to the party
constitution which were meant to
transform Umno into a more open
and democratic organisation were
unanimously approved by 2,541
Umno delegates during an hour-long
extraordinary general meeting.
All the amendments were passed
by a show of hands without debate,
except for the abolition of the annual
membership fee, to be replaced with
a life membership fee of RM2.
The amendments were tabled
by vice-president Datuk Seri His-
hammuddin Hussein, who is also
chairman of the party’s constitu-
tional amendments committee, and
seconded by Johor delegate Datuk
Shahrir Abdul Samad.
Apart from the fee abolition, the
amendments involved increasing
the number of delegates, abolish-
ment of quota system, increasing the
number of Wanita representatives
in the supreme council, division and
branch levels, setting up of a party
election committee, authorising wing
chiefs to verify new memberships,
and recognising division secretaries
automatically as delegates to the
general assembly.
Earlier, in his speech, Hisham-
muddin said the committee had been
working on the amendments since
May 30 by getting feedback from
the branches and divisions. These
were then discussed in several man-
agement committees and supreme
council meetings.
He said the proposed increase
in the number of delegates eligible
to elect Umno’s top and divisional
leaders was meant to make Umno
more inclusive and democratic by
empowering grassroots members.
“Once approved, this will create
history because no leaders, especially
those helming the country’s admin-
istration, were willing to change the
system which had actually put them
in power,” he said.
“This is clearly a manifestation
Paving the way for ‘huge transformation’
“THIS is just the beginning but it is a sign
that there is effort and initiative to change.
There is a long road to travel in transforming
Umno,” said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri
Hishammuddin Hussein.
Hishammuddin was commenting on the
proposed amendments to the party consti-
tution which paves the way for the party’s
“huge transformation”. He also said that the
changes will make it more attractive to the
public.
“The strong unity in voting for the pro-
posed amendments shows that the party
members realise the need for change. There
was strong unity in accepting the amend-
ments and this shows members clearly
realise Umno’s needs to change,” he said.
of Umno leaders’ openness and de-
mocracy towards the expectations of
party members and the people.”
The amendment involves a
5,800% increase in the current
number of delegates. Previously, only
2,510 delegates elected the supreme
council members but now 146,500
delegates will have their say.
Hishammuddin said the aboli-
tion of the nomination quota system
would also include minimum re-
quirements for eligibility to contest.
Those aspiring must have at least
a term’s experience in the supreme
council or division committee or at
least three years membership.
He said although the supreme
council had suggested a minimum
requirement for eligibility to contest
as party president and deputy presi-
dent, the incumbent leaders – Datuk
Seri Najib Abdul Razak and Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin – rejected it.
“They were of the opinion that
they don’t need such protection and
they would not hide behind the sug-
gested conditions,” he said.
Four members stood up to debate
the proposal on the fee abolition
– Mohd Ridzuan Bakar (Bayan
Baru), Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin
(Temerloh), Muntaha Kailan (Muar),
Badarudin Ahmad (Rasah) and
Adam Abdul Hamid (Kulai).
Mohd Ridzuan said the member-
ship list must be cleaned up before
all of them were accepted automati-
cally as Umno members because he
claimed, in some cases, the names
of Parti Keadilan Rakyat members
were still included.
Muntaha said the life membership
fee should be raised to at least RM10
to give it better value while Mohd
Sharkar said party leaders should
not hesitate to remove members
found supporting the Opposition.
Adam, meanwhile, raised the is-
sue of having to meet the quorum of
one quarter members during branch
and divisional meetings.
Hishammuddin said there were many
changes in how Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Abdul Razak led the government and
the party in realising this change. He further
said there should be different approaches in
dealing with the different amendments.
In response to former premier Tun Dr
Mahathir Mohamad’s comment that money
politics cannot be eradicated with the
amendments to the constitution, Hisham-
muddin said: “Of course, it’s true. It has been
said many times, but this is not just a change
in that sense but also change in attitude,
value and mindset of Umno in dealing with
issues.”
Meanwhile, Umno vice-president Datuk
Seri Shafie Apdal said the amendments
7
The amendments to
Umno’s constitution
» The number of delegates who elect the
top party officials to increase from the 2,510
to 146,500.
» The introduction of a registration system to
replace the nomination quota system. Those
wanting to contest top party posts will have
to be committee members at the divisional
level for at least one term.
» The appointment of Wanita Umno repre-
sentatives to take up seats on committees at
the branch, divisional and supreme council
levels. This amendment raises the number
of appointed members, from 12 to 13 on the
supreme council, from seven to eight on the
divisional committees, and from five to six on
the branch committees.
» The elections at the divisional and top
levels will be held simultaneously, and an
Umno elections committee would be set up
to supervise the elections in terms of logistics
and cost. The party president will appoint
committee members.
» The abolition of the annual membership
fee and its replacement with a life member-
ship fee.
» Umno Youth, Wanita Umno and Puteri
Umno chiefs given the mandate to verify new (From left)
membership at branch level.
» Recognising divisional secretaries auto- Party must fight 3L Gerakan
president Tan
matically as delegates to the Umno general SABAH’s Putatan chief Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Sri Dr Koh
assembly. Hussin said that while the public were concerned Tsu Koon,
with Influenza A(H1N1), Umno members should Sarawak
be worried the party would be plagued by a dis- United
ease called “3L” – lagak, laga and lagho (showing People’s
off, infighting and complacency).
Party
“The public is worried about H1N1 but we president
should be worried about the 3L that can de- Tan Sri Dr
would mean a wider-based participation stroy Umno,” he said during the debate on the George Chan,
from party members in the selection of presidential speech. Parti Pesaka
leaders at all levels. “Arrogance and showing off can put off vot- Bumiputera
He also said the changes include gender ers, infighting can destroy and weaken us and Bersatu
interests with contributions from Wanita, allow the enemy to penetrate, and complacency president
Pemuda and Puteri wings. and lack of a sense of urgency can result in the Tan Sri Abdul
“This means regeneration of leaderships enemy defeating us,” he said. Taib Mahmud
in the party,” he said. Yahya said Umno members should learn and MIC
Wanita chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil said from the party president and Prime Minister president
the changes would give the wing strength to Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak who, despite hold- Datuk Seri
work hard in order to win big at the 13th ing the top posts, did the dishes during a recent S. Samy Vellu
general election. gathering for party members in Janda Baik. at the AGM
“It also means about 22,000 committee “This is the type of service-oriented and yesterday.
members at grassroots level will enter the humble leadership that will help us regain
mainstream political arena. It is not just the support of the rakyat (people) in the next
Wanita’s fight in Umno but also Wanita’s general election which I think will be do-or-die
fight in the political arena,” said Shahrizat. battle for Umno,” he added.