JOHOR BAHRU - Johor Umno has never held a discussion on whether the top positions should be contested as how the motion brought by the representative during the 2022 Umno General Assembly (PAU) on Saturday.
Johor Umno deputy chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the motion should be discussed beforehand to ensure democracy was practiced.
"As the Johor Umno deputy chairman, we have never been called for a meeting by the Johor Umno chairman Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad to discuss Umno's resolution.
"The decision was made without discussions or through informing other Johor Umno grassroots leaders. Is this still considered a democratic action," he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Jazlan questioned the Simpang Renggam MP's decision to remain quiet before suddenly becoming vocal recently.
"Throughout all this time, he (Hasni) took a silent approach without releasing any statements regarding the top two positions however, the recent Umno PAU suddenly gave him a burst of confidence.
"Suddenly the Johor Umno representative Datuk Pandak Ahmad during the President's keynote speech, spoke up stating Johor Umno wanted both top positions to be contested," he said.
The Pulai Umno Division chief disputed comments stating both positions not contested would bring a negative perception from outsiders.
"I just want to ask, in 2018 when all of the Umno top positions were contested including the president's seat, but why did Umno continue to lose badly in the 15th General Election (GE15).
"After GE14, Umno implemented democracy in the party, but why did the people continue not supporting Umno?
"If we look at other parties such as Pas and Bersatu, their presidential position is not contested, but the people don't care about such things," he said.
On Saturday, Johor Umno representative was reported to have said that it was weird the additional motion regarding the top two positions not being contested brought forward by the Negeri Sembilan representative could be accepted and debated.
Pandak was reported stating the party had taken the approach of 'as long as it is allowed' attitude.
The additional motion for both president and deputy president positions not to be contested in the upcoming election was approved in the 2022 PAU.
Hasni on Sunday stated it was inappropriate to stop any party members to offer themselves to contest for the top positions even though it was concluded in the 2022 PAU.
Hasni was reported stating it was in violation of the party constitution.