KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — The Umno constitutional amendment scheduled to be tabled this October may see the number of delegates increase from 2,600 to 650,000 members.
Chairman of the party’s constitutional amendment committee Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today the changes will be based on principles of empowering Umno’s grassroots, making it easier for members to contest party elections, reducing the campaigning period and to make the party more inclusive.
The plan to reform the party was first unveiled by Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak at its general assembly last April in an attempt to curb money politics.
“There are four options to be considered on the delegates size ranging from 60,000 to 650,000,” said Hishammuddin after chairing a meeting on the proposed amendments.
He added that to reduce the campaign period, the elections at all levels from party branches to the central leadership would be held simultaneously.
The Umno vice-president also said that the quota system would be scrapped but certain conditions would be imposed, but he did not elaborate.
Currently, a member who intends to contest the party presidency has to be nominated by at least 30 per cent of the 192 party divisions.
“What we are doing is to empower the members at the grassroots,” said Hishammuddin.
“We are serious in reforming our party,” he added.
On the party’s battle with against vote buying, Hishammuddin said it was naïve to assume that the amendment would abolish corruption in the party.
“That is why we did not put abolishing corruption as one of the five principles,” said Hishammuddin, adding that the changes would curb the practice.
On opposition to the amendment, he said that only the Bukit Mertajam division had rejected the amendment but added it was caused by a lack of understanding on the proposed changes.
Hishammuddin said that party officials would be sent to the division to explain the amendment.
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