Too late for Umno to hold EGM, polls defeat collective responsibility of all, say experts
MOHD FAIZUL HAIKA MAT KHAZI21 Aug 2023 09:21am
Zahid with his number two Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan dan secretary general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki during Umno's 2023 AGM World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL).
Political analysts have also suggested for an extra ordinary meeting (EGM) or a re-election to select top leadership including the post of president and deputy president to be held as soon as possible.
This is to allow Umno grassroots to select the leadership line up capable to rejuvenate and to regain public support before its fall in 2018.
However, socio-political analyst from the Universiti Malaya's Centre for Democracy and Elections (UMCEDEL), Associate Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said it is too late and irrelevant for Umno to hold EGM to re-elect the top leadership.
"Umno should have had EGM before the state elections to show to the rakyat especially the Malays and supporters that its internal crisis has ended, to show strength, unity and the ability to work as a team in the state elections.
"This is because the victory ot defeat of a party is the responsibility of the party and not solely the fault of one leader," he told Sinar.
Awang Azman also believes that Umno has other mechanism such as political bureau and supreme council meetings to discuss its defeat in the six state elections.
Umno Veterans secretary-general Datuk Mustapha Yaakub said the proposal to hold an EGM is only a suggestion from certain parties but it is not stipulated in the party's constitution.
He further said all Umno leaders from the president to branch and grassroots leaders should take responsibility of Umno's severe defeat and not just urge the president to resign.
"In Umno, we not only have the institution of the President but also vice president, three deputy presidents, three wing leaders and 50 supreme council members, in addition to 191 division chiefs, 191 youth chiefs, 191 women chiefs and 191 Puteri division chiefs.
"So, why should only the Umno president resign? Why shouldn't all Umno leaders at the central, division and branch levels resign simultaneously to hold a party re-election as soon as possible?" he asked.
Mustapha further said Umno leadership, led by Zahid, is considering the most effective method to address the crisis of voter and public confidence after Umno-BN's significant defeat in the recent polls.
He said all Umno leaders from the president to the branch and grassroots levels should take responsibility for Umno-BN's severe defeat in the recent pols rather than just pressuring the president alone to resign.
Mustapha added that he still does not accept Umno's defeat because the party has thousands of party machinery members consisting of branch and division committee members in every Parliament in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Pulau Pinang, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan.
"So, why is it that when they lose a general election or state polls, only the president is required to step down? Why are Umno branch and division leaders unwilling to do so voluntarily or under pressure for an easier dissolution of Umno?" he questioned.
He also questioned why Umno leaders did not voice their opinion to urge Bersatu's President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Pas President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang to resign after the opposition defeat In Johor and Melaka last year.
