“Maybe, the plan all along has been to merge UMNO and PKR so that Anwar can gain a fraction of UMNO’s Malay support base”
Raggie Jessy Rithaudeen
اين موڠكين رانچڠن رهسيا زاهيد
UNTUK BERITA TERKINI, SERTAI TELEGRAM TTF DI SINI
UMNO’s constitution is as clear as day – any decision reached by the party’s general assembly cannot be challenged or overturned by any platform apart from another general assembly.
However, the validity of a decision reached is contingent on it being coherent with the party constitution, meaning, if the decision usurps a member’s right as it is enshrined by the party constitution, it can be refused or ignored.
With this in mind, let us take a closer look at what transpired yesterday during the UMNO general assembly.
WATCH: ZAHID’S NEXT MOVE WILL SURPRISE EVERYONE
Much to everyone’s surprise, a motion that prohibited anyone from challenging the party president and deputy president during the upcoming UMNO election was passed, and those aligned with Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi are now saying the decision is binding.
However, the party constitution requires that a president and deputy president be elected every three years and gives active members the right to nominate themselves as candidates for said posts without strings attached.
Zahid knows this, and so do many party leaders I spoke to. Yet, Zahid claims that the decision to prohibit anyone from challenging him is constitutional.
Why?
Because he thinks the RoS is on his side.
Zahid initially said he was open to challenge. However, when someone from Rembau motioned that the posts of president and deputy president be left uncontested, he kept mum.
The motion was a last-minute affair and did not adhere to party protocol.
Yet, a vote on the motion was allowed, and when the motion was passed, Zahid feigned innocence by alleging that it was what the grassroots wanted.
So, what is stopping Zahid from pulling the same stunt during the upcoming “special general assembly?”
Isham Jalil has already stated that UMNO will not amend its constitution.
He added that no matter what the UMNO general assembly decides, the post of president and deputy president can be contested.
Put two and two together, and you will see that Isham openly admitted that Zahid can be challenged even though a motion to prevent such a challenge is passed, unless the party constitution is amended.
But what if another joker from Rembau or Timbuktu suddenly stands up during the UMNO “special general assembly?”
What if this joker motions that the party constitution be amended so that the party’s supreme council can stop people from challenging the party president?
Who is to stop Zahid from allowing yet another vote on the motion, even if that motion is another last-minute affair that flies in the face of party protocol?
Sure, one can argue that the RoS can be roped in to assess the situation, and as I recall, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri did suggest something along the lines.
But the RoS is typically seen to favour people in power, and my gut feeling tells me that Zahid will earn its favour simply because he is the Deputy Prime Minister.
The RoS can easily help Zahid by approving an amendment to the UMNO constitution first before investigating complaints from party members regarding the no-contest motion.
By the time the RoS is done with its investigation, the party election would have come and gone, and the results of the investigation, if any, will be academic.
By then, Zahid would have won uncontested and would probably be planning ways to axe those who lodged complaints to the RoS.
Now do you understand why Zahid is so confident?
He catches everyone off-guard, and he knows as well as I do that what he is doing is hurting UMNO badly.
But he does not care.
Maybe, the plan all along has been to merge UMNO and PKR so that Anwar can gain a fraction of UMNO’s Malay support base.
Remember, the Chinese and Indians are steadfast with their support for Pakatan Harapan.
But without an additional 15 to 20 per cent of Malay votes from UMNO, Pakatan Harapan will never be able to form government on its own.
Who is to say that Anwar isn’t after that 15 to 20 per cent, and who is to say that UMNO cannot retain that 15 to 20 per cent despite Zahid’s shortcomings and treacherous ways?
