KUALA LUMPUR: Federal Territories Umno has rejected the additional motion for the posts of party president and deputy president to remain uncontested in the party polls.
Bukit Bintang Umno division chief Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Mohd Rafique, who represented Federal Territories Umno, said this when debating the party president's policy speech at the 2022 Umno General Assembly.
He said Umno must realise the additional motion, if passed in the party's general assembly that ends today (Saturday), could affect the sentiments and support among Malay voters towards the party.
"If such an issue is not given serious attention, it may affect not only (support for) the party but also (the support from) Malay voters, who represent 60 per cent of the voters in the country and are watching closely our behaviour.
"If these positions (the posts of party president and deputy president) are not contested, I fear that it will leave a negative impression of Umno among the people who are not party members."
He said it is not too late for Umno to implement efforts to revitalise and rejuvenate the party so that it remains relevant among the people, especially young voters.
"Maybe all of us, including myself, have made many mistakes in the past. Having said that, we should not continue making the same mistakes if we are aware of the consequences.
"We (the division) also hope that the party's leadership has the same commitment and wisdom as the grassroots to return Umno to its former glory.
"With that, the Federal Territories Umno requests to support all of the motions with the exception of motion number eight (the additional motion), which was suddenly proposed (during yesterday's general assembly) that is for the posts of president and deputy president to remain unchallenged," he said to loud applause among delegates inside the Merdeka Hall of the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTC).
It was reported yesterday that the additional motion was proposed by Rembau Umno division delegate, Mohd Shukri Shamsudin, during the debate on the party president's policy speech at the 2022 Umno General Assembly.
The additional motion was seconded by Marang Umno division chief Datuk Nik Dir Nik Wan Ku.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan told Berita Harian the "additional motion" was allowed if it followed the standing order of the party's general assembly.
On a separate matter, Zainal Abidin said Umno should make it a priority in the party's general assembly to discuss its disappointing performance in the 15th General Election on Nov 19 last year.
"As an Umno member who really loves the party, I am extremely dissapointed with the fate that befell the party during the recent general election.
"We only won 26 of the total 162 parliamentary seats contested in the polls. This is the worst record in the history of the party," he said.
In the Klang Valley alone, Zainal Abidin said Umno only won one of the 34 parliamentary seats contested by the party. He was referring to the Titiwangsa parliamentary seat won by Federal Territories Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
"Why did this happen?" Where did we make a mistake?," he asked.
Umno, he said, must look into and find ways for the party to rise from its crushing defeat in GE15.
"We need a paradigm shift.
"I fear for the worst for Umno and the party will be reduced to only winning one seat in the next general election if nothing is done to address the trend of voters who rejected the party in GE15," he said.