The word "change" has been a popular catch word at the Umno Extraordinary General Meeting which began yesterday.

And if those who have mooted the change have their way, one would see whole sale changes in the party constitution with more party members being able to elect their leaders and at the same time avoid the cancer of money politics.

As if to underline the seriousness of the changes, 41 Articles and sub articles from the Umno constitution will be tabled tomorrow to be debated and amended.

The matter will be discussed at length during the Umno Supreme Council meeting tonight before it is tabled to the delegates.

NONEIf it is agreed, delegates are expected to put the amendments to a vote tomorrow.

The 41 Articles cover seven areas of reform which include:

  • The election of members into the Umno Supreme Council and also at the division level where for the top posts within the Supreme Council would be decided by the 146,500 party members compared to 2,610 delegates which is being practised at present.
  • Removal of the quota system to mount a challenge
  • Empowering Umno Youth chief, Wanita chief and Puteri chief to sign in admission of new members.
  • Qualification of a candidate to contest for party posts;
  • Strengthening the Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings;
  • Increase representation of the movements' three wings and
  • The implementation of lifetime membership fees

Open, transparent and democratic party

Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein, who is heading the party constitutional amendment committee at its meeting with State Umno representatives from 13 states today, said the amendments will see a more transparent, open and democratic Umno.

Asked whether the amendments would help resolve the on-going problems faced by the party, Hishammuddin said it "may not resolve wholly but we hope that it would settle many issues.

"It would provide more opportunities for members to participate in the decision making process to select the leaders. We need to change and we need to do it for Umno's betterment," he said.

hishammuddin hussein home ministry 140409 talking"At the end of the day, this would put the party better ahead in the face of the next general elections," said the vice-president.

To a question whether the sweeping changes involving Umno would be implemented to other component parties, Hishammuddin (left) acknowledges there are problems within MCA, MIC, and PPP but Umno would not make it compulsory for them to adopt the change.

"We will try and set an example where others are given the right to view and consider following us in adopting the change," he said.

Responding to questions whether the amendments would lead to constant contest, Hishammuddin said that he would leave it to the wisdom of the delegates who would decide on the party leaderhship.

He said even his father the late Hussein Onn (the third Prime Minister) had been challenged before by Suleiman Palestin.

"In the end, it is the delegates who in their wisdom decided on who to lead the party. Let us leave it to the wisdom of the party members to decide on who should contest," he said.

Conditions for contesting

Hishammuddin said the committee is looking at imposing conditions on members contesting for posts within division and senior posts like the Supreme Council.

Although he did not mention the time frame or duration for the members who are allowed to contest, it is learnt that for members contesting at divisional level, they must have held a committee post for at least one term.

Similarly, those intending to contest for senior party posts including the Supreme Council, must serve at the division level for at least a term.

Hishammuddin also said state Umno leaders had also been briefed today on the time constraints for debates on the proposed amendments to be tabled.

Also present was committee secretary Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh and party chairman Badaruddin Amiruddin.