He said the move was to fulfil the hopes of the grassroot members, and would be in line with several structural changes to be introduced.
He said youths are defined internationally as those aged 15, but the party had decided to accept them only when they are 16.
Other changes being made were to clear up the membership list of those members who had died or had left the party. “We want quality members, not quantity,” he told reporters after the Umno Supreme Council meeting today.
The proposed change in membership age comes in the wake of proposals for the voting age, now 21, to be lowered to 18.
Among those who raised the idea was Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman. It was supported by Umno Youth vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun, who said 18-year-olds were mature enough to choose the government.
Zahid also announced that Umno would hold its general assembly from Sept 29-30. Eight task forces and 10 secretariats would be set up to address public policies.
An advisory council chaired by Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah would be set up. He would be given the liberty to choose the members of the council and allocate their responsibilities.
Zahid said a legal firm would be appointed to take up a government-ordered freeze of Umno’s bank accounts.
He said the party needed money but the accounts were still frozen. “We will appoint a legal firm to file our claims,” Zahid said.
Umno’s proposed change in membership age is expected to be submitted to the Registrar of Societies for approval.