Unity govt leaders not invited to Umno general assembly, says Asyraf

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki says the party wants to ensure that this year’s event is an internal affair.

(FMT) – Senior unity government leaders will not be invited to Umno’s general assembly later this month, says Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Asyraf said Umno wanted to ensure that this year’s general assembly from Aug 21 to 24 is an internal affair.

He said the matter had been discussed by the unity government’s leadership council.

“We extended invitations last year, and God willing, we will extend invitations next year or the year before the general election,” he told a press conference here today.

“(But) this year, we are giving room for Umno’s large family to discuss issues as a family.”

Prime Minister and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim was among the unity government leaders who attended last year’s Umno general assembly at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

The others present included deputy prime minister and PBB senior vice-president Fadillah Yusof, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and Warisan president Shafie Apdal.

Before that, the last time Anwar attended the assembly was in June 1998, when he was still the party’s deputy president. He was sacked from the party three months later.

Umno did not extend an invitation to leaders from parties in the unity government for its 2022 annual general assembly, which was held in January.

Meanwhile, Asyraf said it is unlikely that a proposal on elections for the president’s and deputy president’s posts will be tabled at the assembly.

Last month, a Tenggara Umno division meeting in Kota Tinggi, Johor, approved three resolutions, including for the top two posts to be contested at the next party elections.

“I think our (general) election is still quite a long way off,” said Asyraf.

“As long as it’s not the (party) election year, Umno members don’t usually discuss this issue. So far, only one division has raised it.”

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and deputy president Mohamad Hasan retained their posts for another term last year after the general assembly approved a motion for the top two posts not to be contested.

Last month, Zahid said he was open to the posts being contested at the party’s next election in 2026, adding that he would leave it to the general assembly and the Umno Supreme Council to decide on the matter.

On Umno’s cooperation with other parties in the Sabah state election, Asyraf said this would also not be openly discussed at the upcoming general assembly as it pertains to the party’s political strategy.

“Let it be discussed privately among the leaders of the parties in talks with Umno Sabah; there is no need to publicise it,” he said.