TAIPING: Perak Umno today denied claims that the Bukit Gantang Umno Youth division is 'crippled' following the resignation of several committee members.
Its chairman Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the resignations would only lead to a re-election of the Bukit Gantang Umno Youth division committee.
He added that the matter is being addressed and managed by the Bukit Gantang Umno division.
"It's not crippled, because there's a clause in the Umno Constitution stating that if any entity—whether Youth, Puteri, Women's wing, or even a division—has its entire committee resign, or if the number of resignations prevents a committee meeting from being held, a re-election meeting must be conducted.
"This is what has happened with the Bukit Gantang Umno Youth Division. There's a procedure in place, and the Bukit Gantang Umno Division has reported this to the party's secretary-general.
"We are now waiting for the directive letter to hold a delegate meeting for the re-election. God willing, there won't be any issues," he said.
Saarani, who is also the Perak Menteri Besar, said this in a press conference after attending the Meet the People Programme at Dewan Bunga Raya in Changkat Jering here, today.
Meanwhile, the Bukit Gantang Umno Youth chief Mohamad Adri Adha Mohamad, in a statement said he left the matter to the division chief, Mohammad Sollehin Mohamad Tajie, to resolve the crisis.
He also denied reports that he had resigned as Bukit Gantang Umno Youth chief, along with the Deputy Youth chief and the Umno Youth Division committee, as claimed.
On Oct 17, a news portal reported that Bukit Gantang Umno Youth was allegedly "crippled" after almost all committee members resigned, reportedly due to dissatisfaction with Mohamad Adri Adha's performance.
The report further claimed that only Mohamad Adri Adha remained on the committee after the Deputy Youth Chief and the committee members resigned.
The committee members claim that their leader had failed to perform his duties effectively, especially in efforts for Umno to retake the (Bukit Gantang) parliamentary seat in the upcoming 16th general election (GE16).