KOTA KINABALU:This is the first time since 1987 that democracy is being fully-practiced in the UMNO party election with all posts, including the top two posts, being contested.
Datuk Salleh Said Keruad said, in the past, only a handful of 2,000 plus delegates chose the party leaders on behalf of more than three million members from 191 UMNO divisions.
“Then there was the ten bonus votes system for a while, followed by the ‘no-contest for number one and two’ policy. All this was inherited from the 1980s era,” he said in a statement.
“Today, for the second time, more than 150,000 UMNO members will choose the party leaders, and for the first time, the top two posts are being keenly contested,” he stated adding that this is what democracy is all about and is good for the party.
“Finally, it will be left to the members to decide who should lead the party and what they would like for the party.”
This not only augurs well for democracy but for the party as well.
“We must respect the wishes and democratic right of the members to decide the party’s future. UMNO members are more mature than we sometimes give them credit for. They know what needs to be done and who should be the ones entrusted in doing it.”-pr/BNN
