Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the delegates at the general assembly had been given the opportunity, before the vote, to eliminate or minimise the threat of the two warring factions.

“Since the no-contest motion has been passed, I guess the divide between the two camps will widen,” he told FMT.

The question of a contest at the top had divided Umno members, with some saying the contests would risk dividing the party, while others argued that it would allow party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy, Mohamad Hasan to prove that they have the support of grassroot members.

Azmi said Zahid should not have left the decision to the delegates. He should have just said that he accepted the challenge.

With two to three months left before elections to state assemblies are held, Umno would become very divided and weak, he said, because the other camp would remind the public that Zahid and Mohamad were the main reason for the party’s heavy defeat at the November general election.

Another analyst, Council of Professors fellow Jeniri Amir, said the no-contest decision would not augur well for Umno’s future.

“The contest was necessary to rejuvenate the party as well as for Umno to stay relevant in the current and future political landscape of the country,” he said.

He said the delegates’ decision to bar a contest was a “step backwards” and would shape negative public opinion.

“Umno delegates may have voted in favour of this, but it probably does not reflect the sentiment on the ground. Many people on the outside want to see change,” he said.

‘Motion shows democracy in action’

Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Awang Azman Pawi said the Umno decision showed that democracy was well and alive in the party as a delegate was able to push for a motion and get it voted on, reports Predeep Nambiar.

“There is no such thing as 100% support in democracy. There will always be a group against things, which is normal. We saw booing and motions against leaders. This marks freedom enjoyed within the party to dissent. In the end, it is decided by the delegates,” he said.

However, Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk of Universiti Sains Malaysia said the decision was bad for Umno.

“Then again, a no-contest resolution for both party president and deputy president has been embedded in Umno’s political culture ever since Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah contested against Dr Mahathir Mohamad (in 1987),” he said.
The no-contest motion was proposed yesterday to ensure that Zahid and Mohamad will not be challenged at the coming Umno elections, which must be held by May 19. The motion was adopted by a voice vote.