Umno secret debates to protect party - Isham Jalil

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno needs to shroud its debate in secrecy to protect the party secrets during critical times.

Its information chief Isham Jalil said if the debates were held openly, the delegates might not be forthright in their opinions.

"Because the debates were closed, delegates were able to discuss openly about issues affecting the party.

"If it was held too openly other political parties might be privy to our issues, directions and strategies," he told reporters at a press conference held after the debates sessions ended.

Eventhough there are no laws in the party's constitution that underlines debates needed to be secret the party decided to do in the interests of the party.

Sources have revealed that the party’s closed-door debate today discussed party polls and the need for the top posts to be contested.

" There have been dissent among grassroots that the party polls needed to happen as per the constitution and that discussions became too heated for it to be broadcasted," the source said.