malaysia
Umno branches barred from okaying no-confidence votes against Najib, says Mukhriz
Former Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir is caught on a video saying that Umno branches can only table motions of undivided support for the president. – Din Turtle screen grab, March 13, 2016.Umno branches are now barred from approving any motion of no-confidence against party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, former Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir claims in a video.
He said the prohibition was to silence the grassroots, which went against the party’s norm.
“This is new. It happened in Kedah. I think it is happening in other states, too.
“From the state liaison committee chairmen to the division heads, the order has been given that the party branches, which will begin their meetings on March 18, cannot table any motion of no-confidence against the president.
“Instead, they must table motions of undivided support for the president,” he said in a speech, which was uploaded on the pro-Umno blog Din Turtle yesterday.
According to the blogger, the speech was made during Mukhriz’s visit to Kota Baru, Kelantan on March 7.
Mukhriz said barring the Umno branches was an unhealthy development for the party which was allegedly losing support from the people.
“This is the problem, the cancer that is spreading in the party. We are in a precarious situation. If the people’s support for Umno changes by just 2%, we will fall.
“Believe me, branch leaders who are here today, that if we fall, we will lose all JKKK (village security and development committee) positions. We will also lose the JKKKP (the federal JKKK) positions if we become the opposition, just like in Kelantan.
“This is because the federal government will also crumble,” he said.
In the last general election, the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat beat Barisan Nasional in terms of popular votes, securing 51% of all votes cast in the 2013 polls.
The Malaysian Insider is trying to reach Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to comment on Mukhriz’s claim.
Najib has been facing internal rejection from 34 branch leaders calling themselves the “Coalition of Branch Chiefs Malaysia” (GKCM) since last year. The group has been pushing for his resignation. – March 13, 2016.
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