Umno divided over terms for candidacy

(NST) Now that Umno is doing away with quotas on nominations for senior party positions, members should speak up on the proposed new criteria, writes ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR.

FOR years, the quota system has been an effective filter against the overcrowding of contestants for senior positions in Umno, while also offering a yardstick of candidates' popularity.

Umno reckons the time has come to abolish this system and amend Article 9.5 of the party constitution with new criteria.

There have been many calls to scrap the quota system, which requires a prospective candidate to receive a certain number of nominations from party divisions to contest positions on the supreme council.

The system had been seen as undemocratic; critics argued that changing it would open opportunities for capable people to step up as leaders, as the present system gives incumbents an edge over their rivals.

 

The more serious allegation is that the quota system led to rampant money politics in the party.

The grand old party, under the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, now wants to do away with the quotas as part of a major restructuring excercise Umno is undergoing since its worst-ever performance in the 2008 general election.

Minutes after officially taking over as party president from Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on March 28, Najib declared that changes in Umno were inevitable, announcing, among others, the abolition of the quota system.

"It is time for change," Najib said. "What else needs to be done? The quota to contest positions must also be changed."

Thereafter, a special committee was set up to look into the structural changes Umno should make in order to revive dwindling support.

The committee, headed by party vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, has drafted amendments to the party constitution and is seeking feedback from party members.

The party is hoping that members will offer suggestions before the amendments are finalised for approval by the supreme council. Once approved, they will be tabled at the special general assembly scheduled for October.

Under the quota system, those keen to contest the presidency need a minimum of 30 per cent of divisional nominations (or 58 nominations from the 191 Umno divisions); the deputy presidency, 20 per cent, or 39 nominations; a vice-presidency, 10 per cent, or 20 nominations; and for a seat on the supreme council, five per cent or 10 nominations.

The principle was for only serious contenders to be nominated for top posts, preventing opportunists from challenging incumbents and splitting the party, and minimising politicking.

Unfortunately, the proposed new criteria appear equally rigid to grassroots leaders: the committee is proposing that presidential candidates must have served on the supreme council for three consecutive terms, or two such terms for the deputy presidency, or one term for those seeking one of the three vice-presidential posts.

It is also suggested that a member must have been an elected or appointed division committee member, or held a supreme council post, for at least one term to qualify to contest one of the 25 supreme council seats.

For a division committee seat, a candidate would need to have been a member of that division for three consecutive years, with a similar provision on those seeking branch committee posts.

Feedback from the divisions has indicated preference for less restrictive requirements — a reasonable argument, as few present supreme council members would be eligible to contest the top two party posts under the new criteria.

The ongoing divisional elections ending Aug 16 would be the right platform to raise issues related to the new criteria. Some state Umno liaison committees are also taking it upon themselves to organise a convention specifically to discuss the proposed amendments.

"We hope to provide input, suggest changes and reject proposals after deliberating all implications, because Umno must be seen to be more democratic when it replaces the quota system," says Kulai division chief Datuk Adam Hamid.

He recently suggested that Johor Umno hold a state convention to discuss the input from divisional meetings. "We will reject (proposals) if need be, and give counter-proposals," he said.

The Kulai division committee recently discussed the proposals, and will canvass the opinions of delegates attending the division's meeting on Aug 1.

The Pokok Sena division will take a similar stand for its meeting today. Division secretary Ramli Mohd Yunus says random surveys have shown that members of the division consider the new criteria too restrictive.

"All we want is that any new ruling will not be an obstacle to those with good leadership qualities seeking higher positions in the party," he says.

Bukit Mertajam chief Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir thinks the new criteria are as "undemocratic" as the quota system. "It's good that members give their input when the division meets on Aug 16."

Bukit Merjatam and Cheras Umno divisions are among those that have set up their own committees to consider these matters.

"We need to look into the proposals and table our own to be discussed by our members on Aug 1," says Cheras Umno chief Datuk Syed Ali Al-Habshee.

The Umno grassroots have clamoured for change since the party was humbled in the last general election. The party leadership is giving them a chance to be part of this change. They should not waste it.