UMNO Supreme Council: Only party president to deliver winding up speech

Vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision was made after taking into account the opening and winding up speeches at the general assemblies of the three party wings were only made by their respective leaders.

"Therefore, decision has been made that the winding up speech at the party general assembly will only be by the party president," he told reporters after the meeting at Menara Dato' Onn here.

The hour-long meeting, chaired by Najib, was attended by deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the three vice-presidents – Ahmad Zahid, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein – and all the MT members.

The UMNO general assembly will begin Thursday with the opening ceremony by the president at the Merdeka Hall, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here.

On the agenda of the special MT meeting, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said the meeting did not discuss any disciplinary action and stressed that all key leaders still retain their posts.

"Don't do negative speculation...what has been decided is what will be carried out," he said.

Ahmad Zahid said tonight's meeting only discussed two agendas, namely the report from the members of the Supreme Council on the three wings' assemblies and the motions being tabled, namely policy speech, economics, religion and education.

Meanwhile, UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the special MT meeting also discussed the final preparations for tomorrow's assembly.

Wanita UMNO chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the meeting which started about 8.30pm went well in a normal situation and UMNO was ready to begin its assembly.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin and Mohd Shafie when approached by reporters also confirmed that they would attend the assembly tomorrow.

This year's UMNO general assembly is being held for five days beginning yesterday.

Tomorrow's opening ceremony will begin with a parade and flag-raising ceremony at Dataran Putra at 9am, followed by a policy speech by Najib at the Merdeka Hall, in front of 2,762 delegates.