UMNO directs its Melaka wing to prepare for state elections

2021-10-15 07:35:32 0 Comments 59277 view

By INS Contributors

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia--UMNO Melaka has been directed by the party's central leadership to mobilise its election machinery to face expected state elections, taking into account the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the preparations needed to incorporate guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOP) proposed by the Health Ministry (MOH), National Security Council (NSC)and Election Commission (EC), in a statement.

"It is instructed that the party machinery at every level make thorough preparations to face this PRN by following the SOP to be set by the EC.

"From 15 October 2021 to 30 November 2021, the UMNO Branch Conference will be held in 191 Divisions. It is hoped that the Branch, Women, Youth and Puteri meetings can run smoothly by following the NSC and MOH SOPs," he said.

He also confirmed the abolition of UMNO membership against Datuk Seri Utama Idris Haron and Datuk Nor Azman Hassan who were previously members in the Tangga Batu Division, Melaka.

The Melaka state legislative assembly was dissolved on Oct. 5 following the collapse of the second state administration in two years, paving the way for polls to be held in the Malaysian state within two months.

The EC is scheduled to meet on Oct. 18 to decide on the viability, but the overall sentiment is the elections will be held, both as a testbed to judge the strength of parties and their coalitions.

Recent tensions have seen UMNO ally PAS move towards Bersatu, but a resurgent UMNO is confident in being able to win over a larger number of state and federal seats following a poor showing by the Pakatan Harapan (H) administration which collapsed only two years into its term following the 2018 general elections.

The following Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) government was heavily criticised by the public and even coalition partners UMNO over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic fallout, with Bersatu resident and former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, finally stepping down on Aug. 16.