Shafie's Advice For Those Who Want To Join Umno

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal on Sunday advised young people and professionals who faced restriction in joining the party at branch level to forward their membership application directly to the party headquarters.

"The processing of the membership application can be expedited then," he said after attending a meet-the-people session, here.

He was asked to comment on the claim by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that some Umno branch leaders restricted young people from joining the party for fear that these new members would eventually pose a threat to their positions at the branch level.

Shafie said branch leaders should not prevent young people and professionals from joining the party as these people would be of benefit to the party and country in the long term.

"Recent amendments to the party constitution have simplified the membership application procedure. An application only needs the signatures of the divisional chief as well as the heads of the various wings at that level," he said.

Shafie said a meeting of the Umno Membership Committee, of which he is chairman, would be held on Dec 17 to discuss efforts to increase the party's members.

He said the party would attempt to draw more members from among young people and professionals in the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).