The Umno supreme council has postponed the party's internal election, initially slated for next year, for 18 months.

Umno president Najib Abdul Razak, in announcing this after a supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur today, said apart from strengthening the party, the move will ensure that Umno and other BN component parties were stronger come the next general election.

"We must prioritise our services for the rakyat […]  give focus on the rakyat's needs, whether at the policy or grassroots level.

"We must (also) focus on strengthening the party and do what's necessary so that Umno and our friends are stronger in facing the coming general election.

The last party election was held in October 2013 which Najib won uncontested.

Given the latest development, the next party polls would be held sometime in the middle of 2018.

At the Umno general assembly last November, deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin ( photo ) suggested that Umno not postpone its election.

 

"I believe Umno will not split if the election is held. Umno leaders are matured enough to handle it," he had said.

By postponing the party polls, Najib, who is currently under pressure from former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to quit and weighed down by numerous allegations, would remain unchallenged until the next general election.

Announcement 'not early'

Meanwhile, Najib, in rationalising the move, said it was made in accordance with Article 10.16 of the party constitution which gives the supreme council the right to postpone the elections at the division and branch levels.

Pointing out that the move was not out of the ordinary, Najib said his predecessors, former premiers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, had made such postponements using the same rationale, too.

"This does not mean that Umno is not a democratic party; that we are denying the spirit of democracy and openness.

"Based on the party's new constitution, we are more open in deciding the type of leadership at all levels.

"The supreme council had also decided that the methods used in the party election be scrutinised so that more appropriate methods are used," he said, adding that input from all levels of the party leadership would be taken into account.

Asked why such an early announcement was made, Najib denied that it was such.

"It (the announcement) was not made early. We don't want anything happening that can shift the focus or make things worse," he said.

Najib said party members had been given guidelines and they knew the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that needed to be achieved.

"If we do not decide now, many will be making assumptions," he said.