Umno supreme council member Lajim Ukin today suggested that Umno members whose membership were less than three years refrain from contesting the party's top posts.

umno 2009 agm 260309 02He said apart from protecting the status of the presidency, deputy presidency, vice-presidency and the supreme council, the call was also aimed at getting the new members acquainted with party principles first before they were allowed to contest for posts.

"This is not to stop anyone from contesting. A member has all the right to contest but he must also fulfil certain criteria to contest for the post of president or deputy president.

"Otherwise, anyone can join the party today and contest for a post tomorrow," he told Bernama in an interview.

Leaders must meet certain criteria

Such a person was only interested in getting posts or contesting just for he sake of contesting, said Lajim, who is Deputy Housing and Local Government inister.

"The new member must first learn about leadership, about the party's struggle and how they can contribute to strengthen the party," he said.

He was commenting on the proposed amendment to the Umno constitution and the remarks by Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein that certain criteria should be introduced in the contest for top posts.

Lajim, who is also Beaufort Umno chief, said to contest the post of president, one should serve as a supreme council member for two terms, and one term for the deputy presidency.

The 2009 Umno General Assembly is scheduled for Oct 13-16 at the Putra World Trade Centre here.

- Bernama