KUALA LUMPUR - United Malays National Organisation (Umno) presidential hopeful Khairy Jamaluddin has thrown down the gauntlet to his party members when he proposed three radical campaign promises in his bid to become its youngest-ever president.

The moves will be part of his efforts to reform the party, which he said will be the primary theme of his campaign in the June 30 party election.

At the party’s headquarters on Wednesday (June 20), Mr Khairy promised to end the “no-contest” culture that has become the mainstay of the former ruling party for almost three decades.

“We must celebrate democracy within Umno... this means every three years, we will have elections and there can be no delays,” said the 41-year-old outgoing Umno Youth chief.

“There will be no more resolutions to forbid contests. We must not shield the president from healthy contests in the party so that leaders are continuously held accountable,”

At last year’s general assembly, the party, under the influence of former president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, passed a no-contest resolution for the posts of president and deputy president at this year’s internal polls.

Mr Khairy also pledged to remove the rule to allow party leaders to postpone party elections up to 18 months.

He said the party must return to its roots and return the power of choice to its grassroots.

“Elections must be carried out every three years. And there will be no more extensions.”  

Delays in party elections killed accountability, he said.

“Look where that got us.”

The last party elections were in October 2013. Since then, the Malay party has not held any election and has instead postponed it twice – the first in October 2016 and again in 2018.

The former youth and sports minister vowed to allow the grassroots to criticise the leadership and promised that members who do so will not be punished for it.

He also promised to introduce two additional elected vice-president slots if he became president.

“One will be for a woman candidate, who will be chosen among themselves. She will have the full benefits of a VP and the other will be for a Sabah leader to represent their interests,” said Mr Khairy.

He also promised to give more autonomy to Sabah and allow them to choose their own state liaison chief.

Mr Khairy, who initially indicated that he is contesting for the vice-presidency, surprised many with his sudden decision to throw his hat into the ring for the top post.

The former youth and sports minister said he had decided to withdraw his candidacy for vice-president to give Umno delegates “more choices” in this year’s elections.

“I want to give them options that represent different generations, ideas, world views,” he said, pointing to his two older rivals Mr Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, 81 and Mr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, 65.

He also started to meet members since last night and will tour the country to convince them about his manifesto and vision for Umno.

“Umno needs to regain the trust of Malaysians. It must be seen as a party that can be a credible opposition and be a viable alternative to the current government," he said.

“This is my lifetime commitment to regain Malaysians’ trust. And it begins with these party elections of more than 100,000 delegates. I hope they will vote based on their conscience.”

If elected, Mr Khairy said, his first duty was to form a shadow cabinet before Parliament begins on July 16.

“There will be one shadow minister for every Pakatan Harapan minister,” he said.

He said this was an important step towards rebuilding public trust in Umno and to show that it can one day be a “credible alternative” to the current government.

Mr Khairy also mooted the setting up of a separate council for non-Umno members. The council will allow professionals, academics, religious scholars and activists to come into Umno without going through the party ranks.

“These Umno cadres may even be put up as candidates in elections.”

Many of them offered their assistance to Umno but found it difficult going through the party hierarchy, he said.  AGENCIES

Open debate against Tengku Razaleigh, Zahid? Bring it on, says Khairy

KUALA LUMPUR — United Malays National Organisation (Umno) presidential contender Khairy Jamaluddin on Wednesday (June 20) welcomes the proposal for an open debate between candidates vying for the party’s top post.

The outgoing Umno Youth chief said party grassroots would likely receive the idea positively, and that it would make the party more open and democratic.

This, Mr Khairy said, could in turn help rebuild Umno’s image.

“A debate will not only strengthen politics in Umno but also Malaysian politics as a whole. This will allow party members to evaluate for themselves the vision, ideals and proposals of the candidates and judge them based on substance.”

Besides Mr Khairy, Umno acting president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and veteran leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah are vying for the presidency.

Mr Tengku Razaleigh suggested on Tuesday that the presidential candidates have an open debate, besides declaring their assets. MALAY MAIL