KUALA LUMPUR - The idea that democracy is dead in Umno is not true.
Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos said just because a number of division leaders had rejected for the top posts in the party to be contested does not mean that the party was being undemocratic.
"I do not see this as something which is so disturbing until Khairy can say that democracy is dead in the party.
"Why would he say something so damaging about the party now during the general assembly, is it more of a personal agenda or for the betterment of the party," he questioned.
Jamal added that he supported wholeheartedly the suggestion by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Hassan for the top posts to not be contested in the upcoming party polls as it could lead to further division and fractions within the party.
Jamal was responding to a statement by Former Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin who said that the move by a majority of the party's division leaders to reject the idea of the top posts being contested as 'madness' The former Rembau MP had said that Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was a fighter who would fearlessly face his challengers.
"Make room for competition, don't kill the democracy in Umno," he had said through a post on his Instagram today.
Meanwhile Umno Supreme Council member Isham Jalil said eventhough the division members had made their own initiative to make a stand for the top posts in the party to not be contested, the party has not amended its constitution.
"As it stands no amendment has been made the constitution still stipulates that the two top posts must be contested in the party election, the stand taken by the division leaders are of their own, " he told reporters when met at the World Trade Centre here today.
Isham said he understood their stand as the division leaders did not want more cracks to appear within the party at the most critical times especially as the party is gearing up for the state elections.
"The government formed is still new, I feel that maybe they do not want anything untoward to happen that could cause instability." he said Isham added even though there seems to be a narrative by certain people that the party wants to bar the contest for the top posts, this was simply not true.
"We are not blocking anyone from contesting, if they want to challenge the top two posts they are allowed to and whoever wants to do so can announce it now that they want to contest.
"This is the best platform to do it since all the delegates are here, just announce no need to hide,"he said Previously, it was reported that a total of 140 Umno Divisional leaders had unanimously agree to not want the positions of president and deputy president of the party to be contested in the upcoming election.
Wangsa Maju Umno Chief Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Shafie Abdullah said they agreed to ask Zahid to consider the matter because Umno needed to be strengthened ahead of the upcoming state elections.
Khairy had previously signalled that he would compete against Zahid's position as president.