Kamarul Zaman Yusoff said the decision had been approved unanimously at the previous Umno general assembly.
“This is because only an Umno general assembly can cancel a decision made by another Umno general assembly,” he said. Umno should call a special general assembly to discuss the decision. This would not be too difficult.
Umno’s current leaders have agreed to allow contests for all top leadership positions, including those of president and deputy president.
Kamarul said the Umno constitution provided that the general assembly is the party’s highest authority while the Supreme Council would administer Umno’s affairs under the authority and order of the general assembly.
“That is why any attempt to reform Umno must be in line with all the requirements contained in the Umno constitution to prevent Umno from facing a prolonged problem in the future,” he said.
Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had said last week that the Registrar of Societies had allowed Umno up to April next year to conduct its elections.
The two top positions in Umno are currently being filled by vice-presidents. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is performing the duties of party president following the resignation of Najib Razak after the Barisan Nasional lost power earlier this month. Hishammuddin Hussein is performing the duties of deputy president, which had been under Zahid’s charge since Muhyiddin Yassin was expelled in 2016.