Umno to propose empowering up to 650,000 members to vote

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KUALA LUMPUR: Umno is looking into empowering between 60,000 and 650,000 members to participate in a party election process to choose national leaders.

Currently, voting power is limited to about 2,600 delegates from 191 divisions.

Umno constitution amendment main committee chairman Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said increasing the number of delegates was in line with the grassroots’ aspiration.

“We have summarised the proposals from the grassroots under five premises or basis for the proposed amendments,” he told a press conference after chairing the committee meeting yesterday.

The proposals are meant to reduce the campaign period and hold simultaneous elections; ease restrictions on aspiring candidates; make Umno more inclusive by taking into consideration views from Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri wings; and to simplify the membership recruitment process.

Hishammuddin said the five-point draft proposal would be forwarded to the management committee next week.

“We will then table the proposal at the supreme council meeting on Sept 11,” he said.

On whether the quota system would be abolished, Hishammuddin said the matter would be discussed under the premise of easing restrictions on aspiring candidates.