In a unanimous vote, Umno adopted a motion for the party president and deputy president’s posts to be uncontested at next year’s party polls.
The proposal was made on Wednesday by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin. Umno permanent chairman Badruddin Amiruddin passed the motion at the end of the morning session of the UMNO general assembly after all the delegates voted in favour of it.
This means that Umno president Najib Razak and vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is performing the duties of the deputy president, will continue leading the party.
Zahid said that the no-contest formula will enable Umno to focus on winning the 14th general election, which must be held before August next year.
“And yesterday, we reached a decision about the vice president’s posts. Even though they are held by three people but because there is a sole person, we feel that the most senior vice president post should be should be given to Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein,” Zahid added.
Hishammuddin said the move will avoid the party’s top three leaders from being pitted against one another.