Kedah Umno has decided their stand that the Umno president and deputy president posts held by Najib Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin be uncontested in the coming party polls.    

Kedah Umno liaison chairman Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said the decision was made in its first meeting after 13th general election (GE13) at Bangunan Tunku, Alor Setar today.     

"I hope that nobody offers to contest the two posts. The vice-president and other posts can be contested," he told reporters after chairing the meeting.     

Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir who is also Kedah Umno deputy chairman was among those present.     

Ahmad Bashah said Kedah Umno thanked supporters and voters for allowing Barisan Nasional (BN) to recapture the state government.   

"On behalf of Kedah people, I congratulated Prime Minister Najib for successfuly defending Putrajaya."     

Party polls to go hi tech

Umno executive secretary Abdul Rauf Yusoh in Kuala Kangsar said that for the first time, Umno will be using the card scanner system to determine the eligibility of party members in the election process at divisional and branch level.    

He said the system was initially confined to the supreme council election during the Umno annual general assembly at Putra World Trade Centre.    

"This is the first time that the system will include the divisional and branch level following the amendment to the Umno constitution on the party election process.    

"The system is to ensure that only members who are eligible can attend the meetings to elect the grassroots committee and supreme council members," he told reporters here today.    

According to him, the party would go on a roadshow to the states to explain to members on the new system.    

 

Earlier, Abdul Rauf and Umno election committee chairman Tajol Rosli Ghazali gave a closed-door briefing on the new system to more than 5,000 Perak Umno members at Dewan Jubli Perak.    

Meanwhile, Perak Umno liaison chairman Zambry Abdul Kadir said the encouraging turnout by members from 1,700 Umno branches was a good sign in preparation for the party's annual general assembly and branch and divisional elections.     

The Umno supreme council had earlier fixed July 15 until Aug 31 for the meetings at branch level while the dates for divisional meetings and the annual general assembly would be based on feedback received by the roadshow team.

- Bernama