UMNO constitution to specify Islam as Sunni

Clause 3.3 of the UMNO Constitution will be amended to recognise Islam as the federal religion while Islam constitutes Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The prime minister said the UMNO constitution would also be amended to fine tune the party's election process.

"We will state in no uncertain terms on Islam upheld by Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (followers of the Sunni sect) in the UMNO Constitution," he said in his adjournment speech at the 2013 UMNO General Assembly here today.

Clause 3.3 of the UMNO Constitution states that UMNO upholds, defends and propagates the official religion of Islam and respect the constitutional rights of non-Muslims to freedom of religion.

Najib said the decision was made after consultation with UMNO deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Supreme Council member on religious affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom on the outcome of the debate.