A Ledang delegate from Johor, Azfar Idrus, said the decision would remove a contentious issue and allow the party to focus on the 14th general election (GE14).

“Avoiding a contest for the top two posts will prevent disunity in Umno. We want to build solidarity. We support and see that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is a loyalist and he works hard,” Azfar told FMT on the sidelines of the assembly today.

Delegates at the Umno general assembly today passed unanimously a resolution calling for Najib Razak to be returned as president unchallenged at the next party polls.

It also wanted Zahid, currently a vice president performing the duties of the deputy president, to be confirmed as deputy president without contest as well.

The Umno internal elections were supposed to be held last year but were postponed to enable the party to prepare for GE14.

The party polls have now been rescheduled to after GE14.

The resolution was proposed by Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin last Wednesday.

Sandakan delegate Abdul Hamid Sabal agreed that the resolution would enable the party’s top leadership to be more composed in facing GE14.

“We want to win big in GE14 but the party will be divided if the contest for the top posts is allowed,” he said.

As for Juslie Ajirol, a delegate from Libaran in Sabah, he said the past turmoil in the party caused by rivalry for positions was a reminder to Umno to be cautious ahead of GE14.

He said the important factor was party solidarity in the run-up to the general election.

Jawatan presiden, timbalan tidak dipertandingkan, Hishammuddin kekal