UMNO Wants Democracy?

50 Umno stalwarts want democracy restored in party
BY ROYCE CHEAH, The Star, 28 May 2005

Rallying behind the banner of Pemimpin Melayu (Malay Leaders), 50
Umno stalwarts claim that democracy was eroding in the party and want
it restored.

They want the party to break down all barriers that impede democratic
principles, citing the quota stipulations when nominees are named for
contests as an example.

"Anybody who wants to contest the president’s post must get about 70
nominations from the divisions."

"This hampers democracy because nobody can get so many nominations,
except for one person who won’t be named," said former Umno deputy
president Tun Abdul Ghaffar Baba, who heads the group.

"Winning or losing does not matter. It is about giving a chance to
everyone. That is a basic democratic principle," he told a press
conference.

He said the group handed the petition to party president Datuk Seri
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the KL International Airport after the prime
minister returned from Tokyo on Thursday night.

The matter was among four key issues in the petition, which also
highlighted the following:

The advent of money politics in Umno;

the target of 30% bumiputra participation in the country’s economy; and

making national schools the school of choice among students of all
races.

Among those who signed the petition were Tan Sri Sanusi Junid (former
vice-president, secretary general and Kedah Mentri Besar), Tan Sri
Mohamed Rahmat (former secretary-general and Cabinet minister), Tan
Sri Mohamed Yaacob (former Cabinet minister, Senate president and
Kelantan mentri besar), Tan Sri Hussein Ahmad (former Umno
information head and deputy minister) and Datuk Sri Dr Siti Zaharah
Sulaiman (former Wanita Umno chief and Cabinet minister).

All the others had also previously held key posts at state and
national levels, both in the party and the government.

Ghafar, who said the petition would also be submitted to the Umno
supreme council, added that the group also wants the leadership to
“do something” to wipe out money politics in the party.

On the issue of national schools, he said non-Malays shun these
schools because they are not confident in its basic education system.

"There must be improvement and a focus on improving the teaching of
English," Ghafar said.

With regards to the economic status of the Malays, he added,
"Although the government says the development of the Malay economy is
enshrined in the National Economic Plan, we feel there must be a
special blueprint for them."

Clarifying that the petition was not to criticise the Government, he
said it was to give an opinion on how to improve the situation.