Umno secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said today that proposed amendments to rules governing party meetings at all levels will take effect next year.

The draft amendments would be tabled to the Umno management committee meeting at the end of this month before being forwarded to the supreme council, the party's highest policy-making body, he was quoted in a Bernama report.

Radzi said the proposed amendments were compiled from suggestions made by party members at a recent course for Umno secretaries from all party hierarchy.

Among matters recommended for change are rules governing quorum, he said, adding that the amendments were not to tighten procedures but to improve on existing rules.

Radzi said Umno was also amending candidates' code of ethics to improve on the present code and to ensure smooth and orderly conduct of party elections.

Annual subscription

He said every Umno member aspiring to vie for posts must pay the annual subscription fee before Dec 31 this year. Failure to do so would render them disqualified for contest.

"Not only they cannot contest and if they attend the meeting, they also cannot give a speech at the meeting, their attendance is merely as an observer," said Radzi, who is also home minister.

In 2004 Umno elections, several party hopefuls were struck off from contest for having not paid the annual fee.

"If you can afford to pay the fee, don't depend on others to pay for you. After all, it's only RM1," he added.