Quota System Robs Eligible Members The Right To Contest, Says Rafidah

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- The Umno election quota should be abolished is it deprives eligible members of their right to contest and it will be to the detriment of the party if aspiring candidates obtain them by way of buying, Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz said.
"There will be people trying to do all they can to obtain the quota when in fact they are not even qualified to contest, but they have the money and they can `buy' people to nominate them," she said.
Concurring with Umno disciplinary committee chairman Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail that the quota system be abolished to safeguard the party from money politics, Rafidah said the system could be manipulated by people who had the money to buy nominations.
"There are also those who work very hard thinking that people will nominate them based on their work.
"But some people don't care about their work... maybe they care about the payment," she told reporters after handing over Hari Raya goodies from Wanita Umno to the armed forces and police, here Tuesday.
Rafidah said the call scrap the quota system had been voiced out since the era of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed as Umno president to prevent individuals from attempting to get nominations to contest for two posts.
"Such was the situation then. Now it seems that because of wanting to get enough nominations, aspiring candidates are working extra hard by coming up with whatever activities to get people to nominate them.
"Now that it has come to this, I think it's better that were reconsider the system," she said.
Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen suggested that the system be abolished, saying that ever since it was introduced two decades ago, the problem of money politics had gotten from bad to worse and difficult to curtail.
Umno veteran Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Tapa, 85, meanwhile, said it was time for Umno to become a truly democratic party by abolishing the quota system.
He told Bernama that if the system continued, it would encourage the use of money to achieve the nomination quota and that only those with money would get the opportunity to contest and become party leaders.
"Party members at the grassroots level should also be involved in the election process, not only the delegates," he said.
Candidates should also be allowed to campaign to create a vibrant democracy in the party, said Abdul Aziz, who had been vocal against the system during his heyday in the party.
Meanwhile, Melaka Wanita Umno chief Datuk Hazizah Mohd Sultan said candidates should be among those who had served the party for years.
"We don't want to see people who become party members a while ago offering themselves to be candidates and then when they fail to get the nominations, they resort to buying them," she said.
Terengganu Wanita Umno chief Senator Wan Ramlah Wan Ahmad said that in a much-changed political scenario at the moment, Umno could no longer stop party members from choosing their leaders in a democratic process.
She said many party members could not agree to the system as it prevent a leader from contesting in a clean manner.
Penang Umno Youth chief Datuk Salim Bari said it would be up to the members to decide, but he was of the opinion that there was a need to review the system to keep pace with the times and the aspirations of grassroots members.
Penang Wanita Umno chief Datuk Jahara Hamid suggested that the proposal to do away with the quota be accompanied with continuous measures to curtail money politics.
Kelantan Umno Youth chief Dali Hussin said the call for the system to be abolished was relevant as the race for nomination quota could lead to disunity in the party.
Johor Umno Youth chief Datuk Razali Ibrahim went a step further by suggesting that party members wishing to contest in party elections should not be subjected to the nomination process.
"All that is needed is for them to fill up the form, name their proposer and seconder and they can contest for any of the posts," he said.
Several Umno leaders -- including Perlis Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Kedah Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid -- however felt that the system should be retained.
Shahidan said the argument that the quota system was breeding money politics should not arise as even without the system, there was no way to stop money politics.
"The system also prevents top party leaders from being challenged by anybody, including those having no qualification," he said.
"We don't want Umno to be looked down by others because we allow anyone to challenge the president or deputy president," he added.
For Mahdzir, the system had its merits in that it had ensured that the aspiring candidates had the support of grassroots members.
Sabah Wanita Umno chief Senator Datuk Armani Mahiruddin said the system reflect the credibility of a leader.
"It also pave they way for the election of a leader who can lead," she said.

tunku : when majority wants the quota system to be abolished, there are still voices coming out supporting it especially from the leaders's pet like mahdzir khalid etc.with the quota system the corruption level is everywhere and it's hard to control.a leader with money is a leader with power and will get nominations easily.without the quota system, those involve with dirty politics can only concentrate on the delegates which will be easier to monitor.i am not saying that money politic will end but it will reduce it tremendously.money politic will always be there especially when the president himself uses that method.like what johor umno youth chief said,that party members wishing to contest in party elections should not be subjected to the nomination process.all that is needed is for them to fill up the form, name their proposer and seconder and they can contest for any of the posts.that is the best. let the delegates vote based on the consensus from their divisions.