PUTRAJAYA : The Registrar of Societies (RoS) has confirmed that the approval of extension application to hold the 2017 Umno Supreme Council election is in line with Clause 10.17 of the party’s constitution.
RoS director-general Surayati Ibrahim said the clause provided that the party can postpone its elections at supreme council, division and branch levels for a period of not more than 18 months from the date they were supposed to be held.
“In this matter, Umno has set the party election to be held on April 19 next year.”
“All registered parties and societies are reminded to carry out their business in accordance with its constitutional provisions under the Societies Act 1966 (Act 335),” she said in a statement today.
On March 1, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had said the party had complied with the procedures to postpone the party election in line with the approval of RoS, which refers to Section 13 A (4) of the Societies Act 1966.
Tengku Adnan said RoS had the authority to extend the date or time of the election of registered societies on condition that a written request was made.
“The approval of party election postponement up to 18 months is based on the required structure and conditions after holding the party’s meeting at branch to supreme council level,” Tengku Adnan said.
He said the postponement was to ensure the smooth running of the party in line with Clause 10.15 of the Umno Constitution, with the party election being held smoothly and taking into account the current political situation as well as the situation in the country in general.
On Friday, more than 20 members of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) submitted a petition to RoS, urging it to probe into Umno for allegedly violating the procedures of the party’s election postponement.
PPBM also urged RoS to make a thorough investigation without practicing double standards on Umno.
PPBM Youth Information chief Ulya Aqamah Husamudin claimed that the 18-month postponement period for Umno branch election had expired on Thursday, while the election for Umno division and Supreme Council will expire on April 19.