Umno sec-gen says party polls to proceed in suspended divisions
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 — Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the party has decided to proceed with its internal poll nationwide, including in divisions that were suspended earlier.
He was referring to the Arau Umno division which was suspended by the supreme council on January 5 due to internal sabotage issues during the 15th General Election (GE15) and the Tanah Merah Umno division which was suspended on June 16, 2020, without any reason given.
“So far, only the two divisions have been suspended but this will not disrupt the polling process at all branches and divisions,” Ahmad told The Star after launching the Benut 4 water tank in Pontian yesterday.
He added that an administrator has been appointed for both suspended divisions to ensure the polls will proceed smoothly starting Wednesday.
Ahmad said Umno will hold its party polls to appoint new office bearers for the party’s 191 divisions and 22,000 branches nationwide from February 1 to March 18.
The Pontian MP however declined to comment further on Umno’s recent purge and said he will leave it to the party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to explain.
On January 26, Ahmad said that selections at the divisional and branch level have to be finalised prior to the Umno election, which must be held before May 19.
He added that this is due to the party constitution amendment in May last year, which allowed the party to hold its internal poll six months after the conclusion of the GE15.
