KUALA LUMPUR: Umno's crushing defeat in the 15th General Election (GE15) and the causes behind it took centre stage at the party's general assembly yesterday, with president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi laying the blame on members and leaders.
He spoke about various acts of sabotage, money politics and moves to tarnish the image of party leaders as factors that had led to Umno's loss.
Zahid said such acts of sabotage were especially prevalent after a few big names were dropped from Barisan Nasional's (BN) candidates list prior to GE15.
In his policy speech, Zahid cited how attempts were now being made to disrupt the party's leadership.
Two days earlier, he revealed during a closed-door session ahead of the general assembly
the 10 traitorous BN members of parliament who had signed statutory declarations to support Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to become prime minister in the days after GE15.
Zahid yesterday also spoke about what happened post-GE15 up to the formation of the new government with the backing of Umno.
He said it was time the party moved forward and rebuilt its strength instead of having some leaders continuously harping on such issues.
However, even as Zahid spoke on the need to strengthen the party, the list of party leaders wanting to take over the leadership continued to grow.
At least three names — Khairy Jamaluddin, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein — are said to be gunning for the Umno top posts.
Umno delegates who spoke at the assembly at the World Trade Centre here said something needed to be done to address Umno's declining performance in two consecutive general elections.
"We lost in two general elections. We have to admit that something is not quite right. Something must be done," said one delegate from the Kuala Pilah Umno division.
Meanwhile, political observers said while the party leadership was laying the blame on others, it should also realise that calls for GE15 to be held came from among the top brass.
"He (Zahid) was the one who picked the candidates for the election, not the poster boy (Ismail Sabri) or anyone else," one political analyst said.
In a later development, Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said he was considering contesting
in the party elections this yearand would announce the post he would vie for "when the time comes".
Zambry, who is BN secretary-general, said he previously contested a supreme council post.
"This time, I will study the situation. I am not desperate for this or that (post). Most importantly, I wish to be part of the team that can rebuild the party. I will announce the position later," he told reporters.
Apart from the policy speech, the meeting yesterday also saw the party unanimously approve a motion to amend its constitution to provide for the revocation of membership of elected public officeholders who join other coalitions or parties.
The amendment was done in line with the Federal Constitution's anti-party hopping clause that came into effect in October.
Another motion approved by delegates was Clause 8.4 of the party constitution, which provided for the inclusion of division information chiefs and wings' information chiefs to be appointed permanent delegates at general assemblies.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin tabled the motions for the amendments to the party constitution.
"The amendments were made because we want to implement what has been decided by the party. We want to ensure the provisions in the party's constitution remain relevant and are aligned with the Federal Constitution," he said when tabling his motion.
