Take Societies Act to Parliament if you want it amended, says Zahid

The Societies Act 1966 (Act 832) is a law approved in Parliament, and if there are parties who want it amended, the matter should be brought up in Parliament, says Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"If there is disagreement, you have to look back at the Societies Act 1966. It is an act that was approved by Parliament. Hence, we should hand it back to Parliament if we want the law to be amended," he told reporters in Shah Alam last night.

Zahid was responding to a video clip of former Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin, who was not satisfied with Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's decision to grant Umno an exemption in accordance with Section 70 of Act 832, regarding the party's election.

On Umno's direction, Zahid said the party's new leadership line-up would work with him on the matter.

Zahid said the direction, which has 21 steps, would be announced and realised after the party's election on March 18.

"We hope that Umno will have no more thorns in its flesh. Hopefully, everyone will stand united as one team," he said.

Regarding cooperation with other parties to face the upcoming state elections, the deputy prime minister said Umno will hold internal discussions for three days in each state involved.

The six states that will hold elections this year are Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Selangor, Terengganu, Kelantan and Kedah.