There Are Leaders Who Block New Members:Umno

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 (Bernama) -- As Umno members discuss the applications of three former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leaders to join the party there are also those who allude to the difficulty of ordinary people becoming members.
They charge that Umno is an elite organisation that only allows a certain group to join it while other applications can take up to months if not years to be accepted.
Umno Youth executive council member, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, said this was due to the existence of "blocking" elements among lower echelon leaders who worry that their standing will be affected with the inclusion of new members.
"There were many such instances. Don't assume that by filling a form, paying a RM1 membership fee, you can be an Umno member. Applications that I myself sent through the Jitra (Kedah) division in 2000 took six months to be accepted," Mukhriz told Bernama here.
He said normally the problem arises when the applicant is a young person who is successful either in business or in education.
"Recently when I was in Melaka, some people told me they only got accepted before the general election although they had applied six years ago," said the Jerlun member of parliament.
Elaborating, Mukhriz said as a matter of policy, to join Umno a person had only to fill a form, pay RM1 membership fee and get endorsement from the branch leadership.
"There should not be elements of bureaucracy as Umno is an open party for all Malays and the issue of difficulty of obtaining membership should not arise," he said.
There are some, he said, who join the opposition parties after being frustrated at not gaining membership in Umno which they label as 'elitist'.
"As far as I know, joining opposition parties is very easy, some do it online. Not many whims. Umno should also be like that," he said.
Umno Cheras division chief, Senator Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee, admits hearing such complaints.
"I heard of application forms being stuck at certain branches. Don't know why?," he said.
He did not reject the possibility there were leaders who worried that their position would be adversely affected with new members and said the matter should be addressed as it blocked the entry of new members especially the young.
"What is there to fear? To me if a leader discharges his duties and reposnsibilities sincerely he has no reason to be worried if people want to join Umno," he said.
However, he said, if there were former opposition party members, especially former Umno members, who wanted to re-join Umno they have to go through a different process.
"They should be called for an interview by the party's management committee and be questioned about their intention to re-join Umno. We do not want them to become thorns in the flesh," he said.
He was referring to the applications by the former PKR Youth chief, Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, and former Permatang Pauh PKR division chief, Anuar Shaari, who had left Umno to join the opposition party.
Syed Ali said if both these leaders were accepted easily by the Umno leadership there would be disaffection among members who had been loyal to the party despite being disciplined.
It was strange that such a situation happened only in certain states whereas in Johor, Umno membership was almost automatic.
"In Johor, if parents are Umno members, the children will surely be members. No other way unless the whole family is not involved," said a Johor Umno member who did not want to be identified.
He said involvment in Umno is also done by parents who register membership as soon as one is qualified.
"In Johor, becoming an Umno member is almost a culture. It's strange if one is not a member," said the youth in his 30's.
Umno now has more than three million members making it the largest Malay political party in the country.

tunku : it's true that sometimes it's very difficult for a new member to join umno in some of the branches.this is due to the insecure feeling by its leaders especially when the applicant is a very well educated or successful businessman.it does not happen in all the branches but some.sometimes the hq is very slow in processing them.by right they should do it online.the process should be easy.i agree with syed ali suggestion that if the applicants are from the oppositions leaders and ex leaders then they should go thru a thorough process to make sure their objective and sincerity in joining umno.but i guess ezam and friends will get direct entry without hassle as will be look after by some big hands.