Umno delegates are given more freedom to debate numerous motions including economy, education and religion at the 2013 Umno general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre on Dec 2-7.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said this was to ensure that the delegates could analyse more broadly the issues related to the motions.

He said it also proved that Umno was an open party which often took into account the views of numerous quarters in its serious effort to strengthen the party and nation.

“Normally, we give them a guideline to ensure the debates do not deviate but this time we want to give them more freedom to forward ideas whether about the party or government policy,” he said.

He said this at a media conference after opening the 2013 International Oil Palm Congress at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.

Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, said the freedom to debate also could give an impression to the party leadership on the feelings of the members on the party.

But he said what was more important was that the motions debated were in the interest of the party and beneficial to the people and nation.

“They can assess how far the political transformation which we (Umno) mentioned, we are able to perform, and the direction of the party and government in the coming years,” he said.

Commenting further, he said the motions to be debated at the assembly would be prepared by Umno vice-president and Umno general assembly motion committee chairperson Hishammuddin Hussein.

According to Muhyiddin, to date, the motions which had been announced were on the policy speech, economy, religion and education.

Asked what would be raised by delegates at the five-day gathering, Muhyiddin said the proposal to improve on the new election system implemented by Umno recently could be among the matters to be raised.

“This is the first assembly after the 13th general election, definitely there will be evaluation, feedback and post-mortem of what they feel about the general election,” he added.

- Bernama