KEPALA BATAS, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- Former Umno president Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi supports the decision by the Umno Supreme Council to abolish the quota system in the party elections.
He believed the decision would be lauded not only by Umno members, but also supporters and fans of the party.
"It is a good decision. I support it. I believe the response from Umno members is overwhelming, as well as from party supporters and fans," he told reporters after handing over Hari Raya aid to 216 people in the Pinang Tunggal state constituency here on Saturday.
He said this in response to a statement by Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday that the supreme council had agreed to abolish the quota system in the party elections and also to increase the number of delegates to the party's general assembly.
Abdullah also said he was confident that the decision would be welcomed by many people and hoped that it would curb money politics in the party.
In another development, he said the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) should step up efforts to develop the economy of the Muslim community so that they would not be plagued by hardship and poverty.
With the OIC celebrating its 40th anniversary on Sept 25, he said, it was time that it and also other Islamic non-governmental organisations to work together for the purpose.
"When I headed the organisation before, I said that it had been my aim for attention be given to developing the economy. This being that poverty and backwardness form the biggest problem to the Muslim community," he added.
Abdullah, who is former OIC chairman, said that with the current world economic situation, it was apt for OIC member countries to help one another.
The former prime minister also said that there were many challenges facing the OIC, including issues in Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq.
At the function, Abdullah also received RM89,750 in business tithe from two banks and a company to be distributed to the needy.
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