Clause 3.3 of the Umno constitution will be amended to recognise Islam as the federal religion while Islam constitutes Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah, said Najib Razak.

The prime minister said the Umno constitution would also be amended to fine tune the party's election process.

"We will state in no uncertain terms on Islam upheld by Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (followers of the Sunni sect) in the Umno Constitution," he said in his adjournment speech at the 2013 Umno General Assembly here today.

Clause 3.3 of the Umno Constitution states that Umno upholds, defends and propagates the official religion of Islam and respect the constitutional rights of non-Muslims to freedom of religion.

Najib said the decision was made after consultation with Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin and Supreme Council member on religious affairs Jamil Khir Baharom on the outcome of the debate.

    

Speaking at a news conference later, Najib said Umno would hold a special general assembly next year to amend the party's constitution.

Asked whether the Federal Constitution will also be amended to redefine Islam, he said many processes had to be observed before such amendment could be made.

"We have to go through the discussion process first, we need two get a two-thirds majority (in Parliament), and we need the support of the Conference of Malay Rulers," he said.

Party polls process to be improved

Touching on party polls in his speech, Najib said the Umno Supreme Council would deliberate on recommendations gathered from divisions on ways to improve the election process.

"I think in principle, the election process is good but the conditions are too loose. We do not want them to be too stringent or too loose, just in between," he said.

He said the election method might be changed to ensure that only those who were really committed would fill the Umno leadership.

Umno members does not want members to abuse the process to run for office just because they fulfilled the basic requirements as contestants, he added.

On the proposed key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge Umno's performance at the state, divisional and branch levels, he told reporters that it would be discussed at the next Supreme Council meeting.

"Actually, it is enshrined in the party's constitution, but have not been implemented," he said.

On the Bumiputera Empowerment Agenda, Najib said it would be implemented based on the principles of social justice.

"We cannot neglect the majority. Bumiputera includes people of Sabah and Sarawak. When we implement the NEC (New Economic Policy), we have never denied the rights of the other communities.

"In fact, all races have benefited from policies championed by Umno and Barisan Nasional," he added.

- Bernama