UNANIMOUS AYE FOR PARTY CONSTITUTION AMENDMENTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The United Malays National Organisation
(Umno) special general assembly Thursday changed the rules of election for party
posts by making it more open and abolishing the nomination quota system to stamp
out money politics.

The special assembly which began at 12.20pm, ended an hour later with the
delegates unanimously approving the proposed amendments tabled by party
vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein.

The amendments took place six months after Najib Razak took over the Umno
presidency with the determination to make Umno more transparent, inclusive and
democratic. Umno is the main component party of the ruling National Front
Coalition or Barisan Nasional (BN).

The first proposed amendment passed was increasing the number of delegates
to choose the top party leaders and at the divisional level from 2,500 now to
146,500.

The enlarged number took into account the 500 delegates from each of the
191 divisions, making up 95,500, and another 51,000 from the party's three wings
in the 17,000 branches nationwide, said Hishammuddin, who is also the chairman
of the Umno Constitution Amendments Committee.

"This new step gives recognition to the voice and role of the branch leaders
in the three wings and the divisional delegates by being involved together in
choosing the top leaders for the party.

The second amendment accepted was on abolishing the nomination quota system
to make Umno more democratic and to give as wide an opportunity to members to
contest for party posts.

The minimum requirement for contesting a post in the party's supreme council
is to register oneself and to have held a post in the supreme council or
divisional committee for at least one term.

To contest for a divisional committee post, one has to be a party member for
at least three years.

The third amendment passed was on the appointment of an additional Wanita
(Umno Women's Wing) representative in the supreme council, divisions and
branches to increase women's voice in the party.

With this, the number of appointed members in the supreme council is
increased to 13 from 12, eight from seven at the divisional level, and six from
five at the branch level.

The fourth amendment involves the setting up of the Umno Elections Committee
to coordinate the logistics for the party elections which will be held
simultaneously.

The fifth amendment abolished the annual membership fee (RM1) and replaced
with a life membership fee of RM2 (US$0.59).

The sixth amendment allows the leaders of the party wings to accept new
members so as to speed up the membership approval process, especially for young
people.

The last amendment approved was on giving automatic delegate status to the
division secretary to attend the Umno general assembly. This is aimed at
recognising the contribution of this group, the pillar of the party's
administration at the divisional level.

Later at a press conference, Hishammuddin said his work after this would be
to draw up the details of the new party rules such as the issue of quorum raised
by the delegates when debating on the amendments.

He said changes involving the party rules only needed the approval of the
supreme council.
-- BERNAMA