Ku Li charts proposals to reform Umno

Former Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has proposed several radical changes in the leadership structure of the party in order to reform and eradicate money politics.

For starters he has proposed that the president, deputy president, vice-presidents and members of the powerful supreme council be elected directly by the members, numbering some three million.

At present, the posts are filled via election by the about 1,500 delegates to the party's assembly.

Similarly, Tengku Razaleigh also called for the state party chiefs to be elected by the membership at state level, and not appointed by the president.

And he once again reiterated his stand that the nominations quotas to be abolished.

Under the quota system introduced in 1987, contestants for top party posts - including the incumbents - must acquire a certain number of nominations before they can contest.

"These reform proposals address the structural issues which make it impossible to eradicate corruption in Umno today with piecemeal changes," said Tengku Razaleigh in his latest blog entry dated Feb 1.

"The rot in Umno has gone so deep that it requires wholesale structural reform," added the former finance minister.

Tengku Razaleigh himself has been a victim of the present nomination system whereby he had failed to obtain the required nominations to contest for the presidential post for the forthcoming party polls in March.

He garnered only one nomination from his Gua Musang division with all the other remaining 190 divisions supporting deputy president Najib Abdul Razak to take over from president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Many have argued that the culture of money politics in Umno has its roots in the present set up of electing leaders whereby divisions and general assembly delegates are usually tempted with monetary inducement to nominate and vote for a particular person.

No gov't posts for party leaders

Continuing with his proposals of reform, Kelantan prince Tengku Razaleigh also said that parliamentary candidates must be picked by their respective divisions, not by the party president.

"Top office holders in the party must also refrain from holding top government positions.

"This is to separate party politics from the responsibilities of government. Office holders in the party should concentrate on strengthening and improving the party," he added.

And likewise, he said, members of the cabinet, selected from among the party's members of parliament, must just focus on national priorities.

He added that the changes that he proposed will lead to a renewal of Umno's entire leadership.

Tengku Razaleigh also said that his proposal would decentralize power in Umno and make it a grassroots driven party again.

"The proposals will also restore democracy to Umno, make Umno accountable and open the doors to young people of talent and energy, thereby revitalizing the party and giving it a future," he said.

He also complained that he had been talking about these proposals for reform since the aftermath of the general election last year but they have been "blocked out of the mainstream press".

"I hope they reach a wider audience here, are passed on, and stimulate the serious discussion that must occur in Umno before it is too late."