KJ: 'Bogus' motion to protect top 2 robs Umno members of right to choose

Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today launched a scathing broadside against the party's top two following Putrajaya's leniency towards a breach of party rules.

In a video clip, Khairy said that Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's decision to invoke Section 70 of the Societies Act 1966 indicated that the Registrar of Societies (ROS) had indeed ruled that Umno's decision to suspend the election for its top two leaders was invalid.

He said that a purported leaked letter from the ROS to Umno dated March 2 further lent credence to the claim.

The Umno annual delegates assembly had on Jan 13 passed a motion to prevent the party presidency and deputy presidency from being contested. Party secretary-general Ahmad Maslan later argued that this was not illegal as there have been precedences.

Khairy (above), who was sacked from Umno on Jan 28, argued that Article 9.3 of the Umno constitution clearly stated that all party positions "shall" be subject to an election and the purported letter from the ROS attested to this.

"Your rights to choose a president and deputy president has been robbed by this bogus motion that was filed by (Umno deputy president) Mohamad Hasan's division.

"It is embarrassing enough (for them) to come up with a motion to protect their own leadership, (the motion) also violates the party's constitution.

"Wow! Just, wow!" Khairy said in the seven-minute clip shared on Whatsapp.

Khairy described Mohamad and party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the "untouchable caste".

"For other positions, you can fight each other to your heart's content," he added.

‘What an embarrassment’

The former health minister said there have been arguments favouring Saifuddin's invocation of Section 70 because it would prevent the party from being deregistered.

However, Khairy pointed out that this argument could not be applied because the purported letter from the ROS did not specify deregistration and instead asked Umno to undertake "corrective measures".

"(The leadership) does not want to undertake corrective measures and instead depended on the goodwill of the minister from PKR to legitimise something that was invalid.

"Malu betul (what an embarrassment)! The president and deputy president do not have the mandate of the members but they are in power thanks to the minister from PKR.

"Is this what Umno is now?" Khairy asked.

On claims that Saifuddin's decision would ensure political stability, Khairy said this argument was invalid because Zahid's opponents have pledged support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

"Sadly, our commitment could not be tested. The invalid motion to protect your beloved deputy prime minister was made legitimate while the pride and rights of Umno members were cast aside.

"Now, the Umno constitution is of no value. It has become a toy just because of the lust for power," Khairy added.

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