No gag order, says Najib

Umno will not issue gag order on its leaders expressing views as it shows democracy is alive in the party, deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

The party will continue to allow Umno division leaders to speak out in the open on issues close to their hearts, the Star reports.

"What is important now is to provide an avenue to the grassroots to express their views in an open and sincere manner.

"We will then leave it to the party's leadership particularly Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to come up with the best measures to reform the party and regain the people's trust," he said today in Kuala Pahang in Pekan.

He said Umno could not possibly stop its divisional leaders from speaking up as it would be counter-productive.

"The people will then get angry and say Umno is not democratic. So, the best way is to let them have a say before the leadership initiates corrective measures," he said.

On the discussion of a succession plan between him and Abdullah, Najib brushed it aside, adding that the issue had been raised "once too often".

On the calls by Umno supreme council members to do away with the quota system in the coming party's polls, Najib said the party would stick to the policy for the time being.

"We have received many views on the matter and will discuss it in the coming party's supreme council meeting before coming to a decision," he said.

(Umno members can talk and say what they like. And they have, you know. But are the leaders listening? Didnt many voice against the nomination quota system? How come Najib says no decision has been made? Didn't Pak Lah say the council had already decided that it will be maintained? No? Yes? No?)