The Umno national delegates’ assembly will be an even more muted affair this year, after already being reduced to two days during the weekend down from the usual five.

Sources told Malaysiakini that among reasons for scaling down the event was the fact that the party was no longer in a position to compel the federal government to heed its resolutions.

The carnival-like annual event has typically been held in late November or early December. This year, however, it will be held in late September.

It was reported that the Wanita, Youth, and Puteri wings will hold their meetings on Sept 29, while the main body will meet on Sept 30.

The Putra World Trade Centre, which Umno owns, will still be the venue for the assembly.

Previously, the party had dedicated two days each for the wings and its main body to debate motions on politics, economy and religion.

Once resolutions were made, it would be forwarded to the prime minister, who was then also the Umno president.

No booths

Meanwhile, sources also told Malaysiakini that government-linked agencies will no longer be setting up booths on the second and third floors of PWTC during the event, as they did in previous years.

However, a section in PWTC will still be open for traders, which typically used to take up the entire Dewan Tun Razak 4 exhibition hall in the past.

This time, according to a source, booths for merchants will be set up on the second floor near the Riverside Café.

Malaysiakini and other news websites were previously barred from entering the halls where the assemblies took place, therefore relying only on monitors in the open area to cover proceedings.

It is unclear if this practice will remain.