KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — Umno will postpone by 18 months its internal elections due at the end of the year, party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced today.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting today, Najib, who is also prime minister, said the decision was to allow the party to strengthen itself and serve the public.
The previous party election was held in 2013.
“After deep discussions the supreme council has decided that the 2016 elections will be postponed for 18 months,” Najib said.
A recording of the press conference was made available to Malay Mail Online.
He said such a move was not unusual and had been done before by former party presidents Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“This does not mean Umno is not democratic,” Najib explained.
“When the time comes we will have the election… we believe it is important for us to focus our service to the rakyat and their needs either at the policy or grassroots level.
“This is also to strengthen the party with our (Barisan Nasional) counterparts in the upcoming general election,” Najib added.
