KUALA LUMPUR: With less than three weeks to go until the Umno party election in January, the possibility of the top two positions going uncontested has caused friction among the ranks.
Observers believe not allowing the top two party positions to be challenged might damage Umno's image in the long run.
They said it is time Umno took steps to strengthen the party, especially after its historic poor performance in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Umno could be labelled an undemocratic party and further weakened if the two top posts are not opened for contest.
Universiti Teknologi Mara Institution of Malay Rulers Chair fellow Mujibu Abdul Muis said at a time when Umno was seen to be at its "most vulnerable", the party desperately needed rejuvenation and reform.
"If the president (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) believes Umno needs reform, this process must start with the party election.
"Right now, the issue with Umno is its leadership. Rejuvenation will not happen if there is no democratic process in the party.
"If the president feels that he is in a strong position, letting others challenge him for the post should not be a problem. He did it once in 2018.
"Now that Zahid is deputy prime minister, he has an advantage. In Umno, the culture is for party members to choose those with government positions during party elections," he told the New Straits Times.
Universiti Utara Malaysia's Professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said disallowing the contest for the top two posts could make or break Umno.
He said after being stuck in infighting since 2018, Umno must ensure its future decisions stabilise the party instead of weakening it.
On Sunday, Padang Rengas Umno division chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said Umno would be considered undemocratic if the party gives in to attempts by certain people to prevent top positions from being contested in the party polls.
Nazri had said those who called for the top two party posts to be uncontested underestimated the capabilities of Zahid as president and Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan as deputy president.
His view was echoed by Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin, who said Umno risked losing its direction and identity and that this could mark another dark episode in the history of the party.
Federal Territory Umno Youth information chief Wan Agyl Wan Hassan told a news portal that party elections were crucial for giving the grassroots clarity on the party's leadership and direction.
He said it was important for the party leadership to explain its decision to be part of the unity government as soon as possible.
He said it was imperative that the leadership listen to the grassroots' views on Umno's and Barisan Nasional's worst performance in a general election.
He said the Umno annual general assembly from Jan 11 to 14 must provide members with clarity on who would lead the party in the next five years and into the next general election.
Yesterday, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said no decision had been made yet on whether the president's and deputy president's posts would be contested in the party polls.
He said the supreme council would decide on the matter during a meeting on Jan 12.
The Umno annual general assembly was initially scheduled for Dec 21 to 24 this year and was postponed to Jan 11 to 14.
The date for the Umno polls has yet to be announced.
