TOWARDS A TRANSPARENT, OPEN AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTION

Its about time. They should have decided on this many years ago but somehow it fell on deaf ears.
Najib announced during his first UMNO Supreme Council meeting as President that UMNO will be having a special General Assembly at the end of the year.
The special General Assembly will bring forward the idea of amending party constitution pertaining party’s election process. This idea bring hope for a transparent, more open and democratic UMNO election.
A special committee had been selected to look into this matter. This committee will look into suggestion and propose a solution and mechanism for a better election process.
The current system is being criticized as it open up more opportunities for money politics. The recent UMNO election have tainted with numerous allegations on money politics.
Many cried foul that current system sidelined able and honest leaders from seeking election as money has been playing prominent role in the nomination and election process. This is an open secret where none in the UMNO circle can deny its existence.
This move however will bring hope and much needed boost that honest and committed are able to seek a fair election.
For a start the committee should think of a mechanism on how to make more members involved in the election process. If possible every member should be given the rights to elect their leaders, not limiting it to a few privilege members.
At this moment the ‘perwakilan’ are those who are casting their votes. They are supposed to represent the sentiment and desire of the grassroots. Unfortunately they failed to do so. They betrayed the grassroots by selecting their preference. This absolutely didn’t reflect the sentiments during the nomination process.
It’s no easy task considering there are millions of UMNO members all over the country. The committee should consider looking at how other political parties abroad conducts their election.
They should consider studying the election process in the largest democratic country in the world, India. The Congress Party might be able to help the committee on this matter.
But whatever it is, first and foremost is to find ways to conduct fair and clean election. The future of the party and the nation can’t be left in the hands of selected few. Let the majority decides who they want to lead the party and the decision to look into party’s election process is a good start on his first day chairing the UMNO Supreme Council meeting as President.