Zahid is saved, no presidential election in coming Umno polls

KUALA LUMPUR - There will be no presidential election in Umno's coming party polls that is expected to be done in May this year, effectively cementing Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahidi Hamidi stranglehold over the Malay party.

This was so after its delegates voted for the contentious supplementary motion -- that was tabled at the eleventh hour by its Negeri Sembilan delegate -- proposing for the top two party posts to not be opened for contest.

Apart from Zahid the passing of the motion also meant that deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will also be retaining his post.

The passing of the motion was announced Terengganu Umno chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Said at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTCKL) here today.

"Over 90 per cent of the delegates voted for it. It shows that the party members value the unity and stability of the party above all else.

"And this apt because the party needs to focus on the coming state elections," said Ahmad following the conlcusion of today's 2022 General Assembly.

The motion preventing the president and deputy president posts from being put to contest garnered notorierity after it was submitted at the eleventh hour by party Negeri Sembilan delegate from the Rembau division.

It was contentiously controversial as the motion contradicted the party's constitution and the assembly orders which stated that supplementary motions must be submitted in no less than 14 days.

Had there been a presidential poll, it would be the fifth one so as the party -- since its inception in 1946 -- only had such poll in 1951, 1978, 1987 and 2018.

Also, according to Article 9 (3) of the party's constitution, there must be an election for the party's top posts -- inlcuding the president and deputy president -- every three years.