PETALING JAYA: Pushing back the Umno party elections is not the same as postponing the Parliament special sitting, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

       In defending the move, the Umno president said the party has 3.3 million members and to hold an election of that scale virtually due to existing Covid-19 restrictions could cause a high rate of technical problems, like Internet issues in rural areas.

       “The postponement of Umno elections cannot be compared with the postponement of Parliament because it involves 66,287 meetings.

       “There are also 3.3 million members, which means 21,135 branch level meetings, 21,058 Wanita wing meetings, 15,496 Youth wing meetings and 8,598 Puteri wing meetings,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook.

       Ahmad Zahid also said 764 meetings would take place across 191 divisions involving the party’s main body and three wings.

       “The Parliament sitting can be continued with a strict standard operating procedure that can be easily monitored and enforced,” he added.

       Ahmad Zahid also questioned the motive behind the recent announcement by the Registrar of Societies (ROS), asking Umno to submit a fresh application to defer its elections along with fixed dates for the polls.

       “We are concerned if the latest development is just a desperate move by the Perikatan Nasional government to pressure Umno,” he said.

       On Friday, the ROS said that the decision by the Umno supreme council to postpone party polls for 18 months on July 7 was invalid, adding that it also found “irregularities” in the move.

       Ahmad Zahid said Umno would not accept the ROS’ demands for the party to hold its elections this year.

       He also questioned whether the move was supported by Barisan Nasional MPs, who recently announced their backing for the Perikatan government until the confidence vote when Parliament reconvenes next month.

       “I’m urging them to open their eyes,” he said.

       The ROS announcement came amid heightened tensions between Ahmad Zahid and Perikatan-friendly Barisan MPs.

       More developments are expected to unfold in Umno as a letter was sent to all its MPs threatening disciplinary action unless they state in writing that they withdraw support for the Perikatan government and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.