Umno Elections Should Not Be Further Postponed, Says Mukhriz

JERLUN, March 25 (Bernama) -- Umno's election scheduled to be held this year should not be postponed in order to respect the wishes of members to elect leaders of their choice, said Jerlun Member of Parliament Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

He said the party elections was something important and a democratic process it had to go through.

"I appeal to Umno's leadership not to postpone it and do as the party president said last year that it will be carried out this year," he told Bernama here Tuesday.

Mukhriz, who is also a member of Umno Youth's executive council, said that he was confident the party elections would not cause a split among members as they were wise enough to decide without being emotional.

He said Umno leaders must follow the party constitution and all Umno members must decide wisely and rationally on who to choose as their leaders.

Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhamad Taib Tuesday said the party's state liaision chiefs wanted the polls to be postponed to June next year to prevent "chaos" if held this year.

Muhammad, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said they stated this in the meetings they had separately with party president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over the weekend.

The polls scheduled last year were postponed to give priority to the country's 12th general election, which was called on March 8 this year. The last time party polls were held was in 2004.

Mukhriz said that even if there was a contest for the top two posts, it would not cause a split in Umno especially if done in a gentlemanly fashion.

"If there is no money politics and is done in a controlled manner without members becoming emotional, I do not see any problems," he said.

Mukhriz also said that all Umno members must give priority to party harmony as their actions was being closely watched by the public.

"More so because the president and deputy president lead the nation," he said.

Asked if he was aiming for any particular post, he said: "Perhaps it's too early for me to tell."

-- BERNAMA