Quota System Still Relevant, Says Muhammad

SHAH ALAM, March 30 (Bernama) -- Umno's nomination quota system for candidates aspiring to contest top posts in the party is still relevant, said its information chief Senator Tan Sri Muhammad Muhamad Taib.
He said the system that has been in place for 22 years since the era of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, was aimed at ensuring only serious and capable leaders were chosen to contest key posts during party elections.
"Before it was introduced, non-serious contenders had entered the fray. It is still necessary to prevent people from contesting "for the fun of it"," he told reporters after holding a meeting with village heads from throughout Selangor here Sunday.
He said this in response to suggestions by former prime minister and former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the system be abolished because it was being abused by party leaders.
"Whether it (system) is good or not good is a secondary question. I am not saying it is good or not good.We just want to ask what was the rationale when it was introduced and why were there no objections then," he said.
Under the quota system, a candidate wishing to contest the president's post must be nominated by at least 60 of the 191 divisions in the party.
In the old system, a presidential hopeful needed only two divisions to nominate him.
On Sunday's meeting, Muhammad, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the village heads reiterated their support for the Barisan Nasional now that Selangor had fallen into opposition hands following the March 8 general election.

tunku : mat taib took over the role of nazri aziz as the new hatchet man.he is the only one making the opposite statements that favours pak lah.keep dreaming that people still supporting BN in selangor, if they did BN will be the government of the day.