UMNO was at risk of de-registration, and then now all OK
Well, on 6th August, media reported
UMNO's supreme council's term of office ended on 30/6/2021.[Elections was scheduled to be held on 7/6/2021]
To delay elections, UMNO could have passed a Resolution during its 75th General Meeting held recently on 28/3/2021 to postpone its elections - and that may have solved the problem(provided the ROS approved - YES, Malaysian society membership resolutions like this need approval of the Registrar of Society before it can take effect. WHAT? No Freedom of Association?) But, then no such resolution was passed. Was there even any Resolution mandating the elected Supreme Council the power to delay elections??? [Really, such a decision to postpone general elections of Societies should be a membership decision. It is ODD that the Elected Supreme Council has the power to extend society constitutions defined term of office, in this case 3 years, on their own. Then, elected leaders of any society can simply extend their term of office by avoidance of elections which will undermine membership democratic rights]
When the defined term of office of the Supreme Council/Executive Committee of a society, including political party, expires - automatically they will cease to be President or Supreme Council member.
The problem that arised in the UMNO case, was that after the TERM OF OFFICE expired on 30th June, only then was there a decision made to postpone the UMNO elections - a decision not of the membership but the now previous Supreme Council.
Thus the ROS rightly, in my opinion, concluded that
...based on the minutes of the Umno supreme council meeting to postpone supreme council, division and branch elections initially scheduled to be held on July 7 that was submitted to the ROS. “The decision (by Umno) is invalid because the term of the supreme council officer bearers for 2018/2021 had ended on June 30,” he said on Friday (Aug 6)
At this point of time, UMNO was at risk of de-registration, as they no more had a President or Supreme Council after 30/6/2021 - so, there was no one who could even call for a General Meeting, call and have an elections. Maybe, the ROS could step in to help and get an elections going...
Then, suddenly, on 30/8/2021, we are informed that the ROS has changed its position - and now the application to postpone election to end of 2022 is valid?
That means Zahid and the Supreme Council, whose 3-year term ended 30/6/2021 - gets to remain President and Supreme Council members for another about one and half years. Are we sure that UMNO members want this? There are those who want UMNO to be rid of the suspected/alleged kleptocrats ..
In fact, even recently a significant number of UMNO MPs openly disobeyed the President and the Supreme Council by standing in support of Muhyiddin.
In the next elections of UMNO, many expect changes -possibly the ousting of Zahid and the 'old guard' - but then if the ROS consented to elections in the end of 2022, it means that Zahid and this Supreme Council members may be the ones that will also be deciding who will run under UMNO/BN ticket for the upcoming General Elections..
Something is amiss - and it is best that the Registrar of Society explains his 'change of mind'?
Clearly, there were no UMNO General Meeting Resolution to delay elections for 18 months(or half of the 3 year term of office)...So can the elected President and Supreme power DELAY elections on their own to remain in office/power beyond the stated 3-year term?
When the ROS decision or 'change of mind' comes so soon after an UMNO MP becomes our new Prime Minister, questions arises about the independence of the Registrar of Society(ROS).
Be that as it may, one important needed reform is a serious amendment of the Societies Act that restricts the powers of the Registrar of Society(ROS) - It is nonsense when freedom of association is stifled and controlled. The difficulty and delays in registration of new political parties.
When members in a General Assembly decides, it is absurd that such decision will not take effect until the ROS approves. If a society decides to even increase membership fees, it all depends whether the ROS approves or not - Malaysians in their societies are controlled by the 'Big Brother' ROS and the Minister - this is certainly not freedom of association.
Societies laws need also be amended. When people allege that monies in the personal account(or home) really belongs to the society is odd - should not monies of all societies be in the said Society's bank account. The only person usually allowed to hold limited petty cash is the Treasurer. Society's accounts usually requires 2 or 3 signatures, to prevent any single member running away with monies.
One wonders whether the ROS discriminates?
UMNO - ROS really better explain the change of mind? ROS is yet to issue any statement. So far, all we have heard is statements from UMNO itself...
ROS should have just called for an UMNO General Meeting of members to decide on postponement/delay of party elections - it really should not be the power of the ROS to delay party elections until end 2022, is it...
Upcoming UMNO Elections ought to be interesting - many in power/leadership may be ousted..
Is UMNO ever going to give all members the right to elect the party leadership - PKR has done so, and all members choosing party President and leaders is certainly more democratic. Currently, they utilize a 'delegate system'...hence only delegates not members have right to vote.
Umno's decision to postpone party election invalid, says ROS
PUTRAJAYA: Umno’s decision to postpone its party election is invalid, says the Registrar of Societies.
Its director-general Jasri Kasim said this is based on the minutes of the Umno supreme council meeting to postpone supreme council, division and branch elections initially scheduled to be held on July 7 that was submitted to the ROS.
“The decision (by Umno) is invalid because the term of the supreme council officer bearers for 2018/2021 had ended on June 30,” he said on Friday (Aug 6).
Jasri said that the ROS is responsible to ensure all activities and management of registered societies is in accordance with each organisation’s constitution and does not contradict the Societies Act 1966 or any of the country’s laws.
On July 8, when announcing Umno’s decision to withdraw support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also said that Umno supreme council had confirmed the postponement of party polls for a period of 18 months. - Star, 6/8/2021
- Nation
-
Monday, 30 Aug 2021
PETALING JAYA: There is no issue on the postponement of the Umno’s party elections, says the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on Monday (Aug 30).
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said in a letter received from the registrar today that the party’s election postponement has no issue.
“Upon the checking made on my statements and documents submitted on Aug 9, 11, 18 and also a few statements from the supreme council members on Aug 24, it was found that the postponement was made properly,” he said.
With the announcement from ROS, the party’s election will be made on a date before December 2022 and will be informed to the registrar for approval.
“However, annual meetings for branches, divisions and general assembly with a quarter quorum of attendance will still be held in 2021,” Ahmad added.
Early in August, ROS ruled that Umno’s
decision to postpone its party’s election was invalid due, as the term
of the supreme council officer bearers for 2018/2021 had ended on June
30. - Star, 30/8/2021
Umno delegates pass resolution to cut ties with Perikatan, Zahid says party’s ministers to quit when told
KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 — Umno adopted a resolution to sever ties with Perikatan Nasional at its 75th annual general assembly here today but gave no definite timeline for when party leaders serving in the Muhyiddin administration must withdraw.
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the assembly has underpinned grassroots support for the party supreme council’s decision to snub the ruling coalition that it nominally supports, amid talks that Umno is divided about the matter.
“The delegates have given me the mandate to withdraw at any time if they (PN) do not indicate willingness to call for elections soon,” Zahid said in his winding-up speech.
“If this happens, then the supreme council, especially those as ministers and deputy ministers and members of parliament will adhere 100 per cent to the directive to withdraw,” he added.
Ahmad Zahid announced last month that Umno will not see out the initial agreement to remain in PN until the 15th general election by directing his party’s MPs to withdraw their support for the ruling coalition and propped up Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s government.
It is unclear if the party’s highest decision-making body, the supreme council, unanimously backed the call.
The council was also unclear if it wanted Umno leaders sitting in Muhyiddin’s Cabinet to quit following the call to withdraw support for PN.
Ahmad Zahid, however, told delegates at the party’s assembly that he is confident that they would do so if required to.
“If that is the decision they will not hesitate for the sake of respecting the party’s ruling,” he declared.
“This is the main takeaway for the media.”
Earlier today, the Umno president suggested that his party would contest under the Barisan Nasional banner in a message that has got allies PAS unnerved and raised questions about the relationship between the two.
It is understood that some in the supreme council either support remaining with PN or were sympathetic towards the coalition.
The faction was heavily criticised by delegates during the debates, with some likening them to “leeches” and “parasites”.
One of the Umno leaders believed to have been targeted was former secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa, currently the Federal Territories Minister.
Without naming Annuar or any of the leaders, Ahmad Zahid accused a “minister” of backstabbing the party while making veiled attacks against others.
Annuar is known to be among the Umno leaders supportive of PN and has tried to push for cooperation with Bersatu. He was eventually “replaced” as Umno secretary-general.
“You must remember that you are a minister simply because we, the party, put you there,” he said.
“If you are so comfortable with the air-conditioned room and your comfortable chairs, see and be known that those who are there, including a certain minister who is not sitting on the podium here, but is stabbing Umno from the back, if you are a man then quit now,” he added.
“They are parasites.” - Malay Mail, 28/3/2021
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