KUALA LUMPUR – Muda’s elections, to be held in the second half of this year, will see all posts be up for grabs, according to party information chief Leben Siddharth.
The youth-based political party plans to hold its first internal polls for office bearers by the end of the year, earlier than required by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) which said elections must be held by next year.
Muda, which was formed in 2020 and only officially registered with the RoS in December 2021, has only had appointed leaders in its central executive committee and as heads of party chapters in parliamentary constituencies.
“All positions from parliament (constituency head) to central executive committee are to be contested and everyone eligible will be given a chance should they wish to contest,” Leben told Scoop.
Muda has been struck by members’ resignations over various grouses against the party, from alleged lack of transparency and disclosure over audit reports on how funds donated for flood relief were spent, and other disagreements with the leadership over the party’s supposed lack of direction.
Asked about members’ dissatisfaction with the current leadership, led by acting president and Puteri Wangsa assemblyperson Amira Aisya Abd Aziz, and if members will have a chance to elect her replacement, Leben reiterated that all positions will be contested.
“It is up to our members to decide.”
Asked if Muda will adopt a direct voting system to allow each member to elect office bearers instead of a delegates system, Leben said this would only be announced after an emergency general meeting next month.
In the meantime, Muda is also reorganising its membership registration system following problems arising from adopting an open registration method.
As a new party, it had allowed anyone to register online to become a member.
“We are in the final stages of finalising the new (membership) system.
“Due to our NDA (non-disclosure agreement) with the system provider, we will be holding a press conference before unveiling the new system by mid or end-March,” Leben said.
He also confirmed that Muda is on track to release its audit report on its 2021 flood aid spending, this month, having submitted all reports to auditors. – March 1, 2024