IPOH: The people would continue to reject Umno if its members continue to practise the ‘fear’ culture with regards to the contest on the party’s top positions, said Perak Umno Veteran chairman Datuk Khalid Nasir.
He said the party should take daring steps towards transformation by allowing for the positions to be contested.
“Through election process, the members are able to choose leaders who worthy of leading Umno as part of the recovery process after suffering a defeat in the 14th General Election (GE14).
“This could be achieved with the condition that no money politics is involved. Otherwise, Umno will not be able to produce true leaders. Instead, those with money will get their way up,” he said when asked on the proposal by Melaka Umno that the three top positions in the party were made non-contestable in the coming polls.
They are party president, deputy president and one of the vice-president post.
Khalid said he echoed the sentiment of party leaders in the grassroots level as “it is now the time for a transformation”.
He said previously, challenging the top leadership was seen as the cause for problems and disunity.
“It is no longer a problem as the issue now is to ensure that Umno can rise and regain power,” he said.
Among those who objected the suggestion were Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Negeri Sembilan information chief, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Political analysts were also of the opinion that the top posts were contested to bring changes that would attract support from the grassroots.
They felt that the old practise of discouraging contests that was based on solidarity concept was no longer relevant.
Currently, the role of the party president is being held held by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, while vice-president, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, is also carrying duties of the deputy president.
This was following the resignation of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as Umno president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman on May 12 due to the party’s dismal performance in GE14.
