27 June, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak did not dismiss the possibility that he might contest the presidency in the coming party polls.
Asked if he would go for it if he secured enough nominations, Najib said: “I will make a decision when the time comes. There is still time.”
He was answering reporters at a press conference after a back-to-back Umno and Barisan Nasional supreme council meetings last night.
To contest for the party presidency, one needs to secure a minimum of 30% of nominations from 191 Umno divisions.
Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the supreme council had decided to allow candidates to hold kenduris and open houses as this was in keeping with the customs during Hari Raya.
He said the party's code of ethics for its polls would allow the custom this time around as the Muslim festival is around the corner, and coincides with the election period.
“The supreme council did not want to make a decision to disallow kenduris because this is not in the spirit of Hari Raya,'' he said.
In the past, the restrictions to prevent money politics during Umno elections were so severe that even gatherings and dinners were not allowed.
In view of the coming Sanglang by-election in Perlis, Abdullah said the Arau division election would be postponed.
He said the Perlis Umno liaison committee chairman and former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim would head the Barisan Nasional machinery while Najib would be the coordinator.
“This is the procedure that we have been taking all the time.''
Asked if the decision would stir up a controversy since Shahidan was no longer the Mentri Besar and there were still many who were angry with him, Abdullah said he did not think so.
“I don't think there will be any problem. We know that when we have an election , everybody (in Umno) will be working together.''
During the last elections, Shahidan, who was Abdullah's chosen one, kicked up a fuss when he was dropped as Mentri Besar and replaced with Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu, who was the palace's preferred choice.
Abdullah also announced a proposal to allow Umno membership to be made online and payment via SMS. - The Star
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