The party is holding an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) at the Umno headquarters here today to get a consensus on postponing the party elections until six months after the next general election (GE15).

“I hear there are some among us who say that this amendment is supposedly being done to save my position as president,” he said during his speech at the EGM.

“I would like to stress that such claims are not true. There is no way for me to do that,” he added.

The amendment would allow the party to also postpone the elections for 18 months after the expiry of the current leadership term.

Umno’s elections for the 2021-2023 term were due on June 30 last year, but were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It must be held before Dec 30 this year.

It is understood the amendment was tabled by Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin and is currently being voted on at the EGM at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

The motion to postpone the party elections to six months after GE15 was approved at the Umno general assembly in March, with Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan warning that failure to do so could lead to disunity in the party ahead of the general election.

GE15 must be held the latest by mid-September 2023, that is within 60 days after the current Parliament’s term automatically dissolves on July 16 next year.