UMNO delegate calls for no-contest for top two posts to avoid split

KUALA LUMPUR: An UMNO delegate has proposed that the posts of president and deputy president not be contested in the party election this year to avoid a split in the party.

To justify his call, Kelantan delegate Datuk Zawawi Othman cited the rift that occurred in 1987 after then president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was challenged by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah for the top post.

"What happened then? UMNO lost Kelantan in the 1990 general election and until today Kelantan is still ruled by PAS. This is the result of the split in 1987," he said when debating the presidential address at the 2022 UMNO General Assembly here today.

Yesterday, UMNO information chief Isham Jalil confirmed that there was a motion for the top two posts to be uncontested in the party election, which has to be held by May 19.

Isham said the motion was tabled by a Negeri Sembilan delegate and was supported by Terengganu, Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Wanita delegates.

However, two delegates took a different stand and wanted the top two posts to be contested.