Absolute democracy 'can destroy UMNO'

Absolute democracy 'can destroy UMNO'

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Absolute democracy cannot be practiced by
Malaysia's ruling United Malaysia's National Organization (UMNO)
because it could ruin the party, a report quoted Deputy Premier
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as saying on Sunday.

Abdullah, heir apparent to Premier Mahathir Mohamad, said
while UMNO upheld democracy, there were times when it had to
apply a "little brake" to its practices to protect the party from
falling apart.

The Sunday Star newspaper quoted him as saying that the
Supreme Council's advice against contests for the two top posts
in the party was aimed at preventing a split in UMNO.

Mahathir and Abdullah cannot be challenged for the UMNO
presidency and deputy presidency after being nominated virtually
unopposed.

Holders of the top two posts in the party, which has dominated
domestic politics for half a century, are automatically prime
minister and deputy premier. UMNO will hold its general assembly
on May 11.