Berita dari gunung: Mukhriz wants all Umno branches to pick leaders

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Mukhriz wants all Umno branches to pick leaders

ALOR STAR: Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has called on all 22,000 Umno branch chiefs in the country to nominate candidates for the top five posts in the party and send him the list of nominees by facsimile.

He also asked the branches to nominate candidates for the supreme council posts.

He said he had sent letters to branch chiefs nationwide, requesting them to exercise their right to pick and choose top leaders in the party.

“I have requested that they nominate candidates for the president, deputy and three vice-president's posts.

“If possible, I would appreciate if the branches could send me copies of the list of nominees via facsimile (03-64118002),” he said, adding that he had sent the letters in stages since July 15.

Mukhriz, who is an Umno Youth executive council member and Kubang Pasu division committee member, said he was speaking in his capacity as Jerlun MP.

He said it was high time the power to choose top leaders was returned to the grassroots.

“The votes cast by 2,500 delegates at the Umno general assembly should reflect the desire of the majority of the three million party members.

“The delegates play a crucial role as they are also representing 27 million Malaysians to choose the Prime Minister.

“I think it is only proper that all members play their part in this Umno election. Grassroots members are in better position to gauge public sentiments as to who should lead the country,” Mukhriz told newsmen after meeting constituents at the Batu 7 community hall in Sanglang near here yesterday.

He said that when the power to choose was returned to grassroots, it would also help keep political corruption at bay “as it would not be easy to use money to influence the results all the way down to the branch level.”