PETALING JAYA: The Umno party elections have been officially postponed for 18 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing Emergency, says party secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

       He said the decision was made by the party’s supreme council in line with Article 10.16 of the Umno constitution which stated that the council has the right to postpone party polls at the supreme council, branch and division levels.

       “This postponement will not be more than 18 months from the date when the party polls are supposed to be held, ” he said in a statement yesterday.

       Umno elections are held every three years, with the last one on June 30, 2018. The current term for Umno’s office bearers expires today.

       Ahmad said he personally met and wrote letters to the National Security Council (NSC), the Health director-general and the Registrar of Societies (ROS) director-general for guidance due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

       “Answers to my questions were given by the Health Ministry on May 10, the ROS on June 2 and NSC on June 11.

       “I was advised by the Health Ministry and the NSC to conduct Umno meetings and polls virtually.

       “However, it is also mentioned in the letter that if we can’t conduct it early, then the party election should be postponed until a date when the Covid-19 pandemic is under control, ” he said.

       Ahmad said 66, 287 meetings had to be held and the party elections would involve the attendance of 3.3 million Umno members.

       The 66, 287 meetings consisted of 21, 135 meetings at the division level, 21, 058 meetings of the Women’s wing, 15, 496 meetings of the Youth wing, and 8, 598 meetings of the Puteri wing.

       There will also be 764 division, Wanita, Youth and Puteri conferences involving delegates from 191 divisions.

       “It will be difficult as these conferences will take place at the same time.

       “Umno has never conducted meetings, conferences and elections via an online voting system, ” he said, adding that he was concerned over potential technical errors along with bad Internet coverage.

       However, Ahmad said a meeting involving the branch, division and general assembly with a 25% quorum would have to take place online to fulfil the annual association procedure.

       “That meeting can be held with a one-fourth attendance and online if there is Internet coverage. For rural areas with bad internet coverage, face-to-face meetings can be held.

       “They must obtain approvals from the Umno headquarters that are subject to approval by the ROS, ” he said.