Almost two-thirds Umno branches risk deregistration

KUALA LUMPUR — More than 60 per cent of United Malays National Organisation (Umno) branches nationwide risk deregistration by Malaysia's Registrar of Societies (RoS) for failing to submit their reports after conducting annual meetings.

Party sources said only 19,000 of the 21,000 Umno branches nationwide held annual meetings between May 19 and June 10 this year.

However, from this number, only 8,000 branches submitted their annual reports to the RoS in accordance with the Societies Act.

The report should contain minutes of the branch meeting, its list of office-bearers and financial statement, and must be submitted to the RoS within 60 days of the annual meeting.

A source from Selangor Umno said branches which failed to submit their annual reports face the risk of deregistration.

“Not for the party as a whole. If a branch is deregistered for breaching RoS laws, the division under which the branch is won’t be affected.  

“The RoS can only deregister the branch which did not submit its report or failed to hold annual meeting. To revive the branch, it has to be registered again,” the unnamed source told The Malaysian Insight.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi previously said he did not rule out the possibility of the party being deregistered after it was issued a show-cause letter on October 28 by the RoS to explain operational irregularities.

Zahid told party members that they must accept responsibility if the party was deregistered for failure to hold its annual general meeting.

RoS had asked 21,000 Umno branches to hold their annual general meetings but only 19,000 branches complied, he said.

A source from Johor Umno said the failure of branches to submit their annual reports to RoS stemmed from the lackadaisical attitude of office-bearers in those branches.

He added that at every branch meeting, there must be observers from the divisional level to ensure everything was done according the law and procedures.

“And previously, the divisions will assist the branches to comply with all RoS requirements but this year, everything was just handed over to the branches to handle. Not all branch leaders are aware of the procedures.”

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan said the party has plans if it is deregistered by the RoS, including by “squatting temporarily” under the opposition Barisan Nasional coalition's banner. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT