UMNO to test readiness for polls

UMNO to test readiness for polls

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has directed senior officials of his ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) to check the party's readiness for polls, widely expected to be called soon, news reports said yesterday.

Mahathir said UMNO would have a second "dry run" soon to prepare the party for possible early polls, although the government's five-year term only expires in October.

"The first dry run looked like we were well-prepared but there were divisions which had not arranged their election machinery," Mahathir told the New Sunday Times after a meeting of UMNO's policy-making supreme council late Saturday.

Under the drive, supreme council members will visit the party's 163 divisions nationwide to check campaign methods and vet proposed speakers, officials said.