All Umno top posts contestable: Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: All Umno top posts will be up for contest in the party's coming elections, announced Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Umno vice-president who is performing the duties of the president said the decision was made after the party's supreme council members agreed to it unanimously in a meeting today.
This decision meant the motion of no-contest for the party's top two post, namely president and deputy president, that was passed by the Umno general assembly in December last year was null and void.
"We ask that any Umno members who wish to offer themselves for any positions in the party to register between June 1 and June 17.
"All the party positions that are available according to Umno's constitution are open for contest, including the posts of president, deputy president, vice-presidents and the wing's chief," he told a press conference after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting, here, today.
"Hence, the question of no-contest for party posts does not arise. In fact, (Umno vice-president) Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and I are open and welcome that all these posts be contested," he added.
The announcement came in light of several Umno leaders voicing out and calling for the party to open its top positions for any members to contest.
Ahmad Zahid however did not specify when the party election would take place.
He added that the qualification for contest would be subject to the candidates fulfilling all requirements as enshrined in the party's constitution.
On Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull's claim that he had met with then-cabinet members to urge that Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak be replaced as prime minister following the 1MDB issue, Ahmad Zahid said he had no knowledge of the matter.
When press further, he said: "I don't know. Datuk Hisham, did he meet you?," he said, gesturing to Hishammuddin who was seated next to him.
"I don't know, we are no longer in the cabinet," he laughed off.
Mohd Shukri had earlier today revealed that he had met with all ministers to appeal that Najib be replaced, but that only Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah spoke out. — AFP