No Umno rules compel deputy to open meeting of wings

Conference Regulation 14.2 does not state meeting should be opened by the Umno deputy president.

KUALA LUMPUR: There are no provisions in the Umno constitution and particularly its conference regulations requiring the deputy president to open the delegates’ meeting of the three party wings – Wanita, Youth and Puteri – scheduled for next month.

Umno legal adviser Mohd Hafarizam Harun said Conference Regulation 14.2 did not at all state whether it should be opened by the Umno deputy president.

“What is stated is the speech of the movement’s head (Regulation 14.2.6). Therefore, the simultaneous opening previously was merely a convention or practice.

“It was not in compliance with any conference regulation. It should be stressed that there was nothing unusual with the decision of the supreme council yesterday (Tuesday).”

Hafarizam said this when asked to comment on the decision made by the Umno supreme council that the three meetings would be opened by their respective movement heads.

He clarified that the opening by the Umno deputy president was not a necessity but only a practice, so the simultaneous opening by the deputy president previously was not binding.

Umno president Najib Razak, who chaired the party’s supreme council meeting Tuesday night, said the decision was made following a proposal from all the wings concerned.

– BERNAMA