Menteris besar and chief ministers should not offer to contest for Umno Supreme Council posts because they still have the opportunity to be appointed to such posts by the party president.

Umno Veterans Club secretary Mustapha Yaakub said they should also not offer themselves to contest for the vice-president posts because they were needed in their respective states to strengthen the party.

He said the vice-president posts were more suited for ministers at federal level because their portfolios were meant to look after the whole country.

"Such posts (vice-president) are probably apt if given to those not holding any post in the government, if they are capable of serving," he told Bernama today.

Mustapha said the capabilities of the menteris besar and chief ministers in administering Umno at state-level, and their success during the 13th General Election should not be used as a ticket to vie for the three top posts in the party.

Appoint 3 additional veeps

Meanwhile, Penampang Umno head John Ambrose has suggested that Umno's constitution be amended to give powers to the president to appoint three additional vice-presidents, thus bringing the number of vice-presidents in the party, including the three who are elected, to six in all.

He said there was a great need for Umno members to evaluate and debate the proposal at Umno's upcoming general assembly following the changed political scenario in the country and with Umno being the pillar of the nation's administration.

"Umno now has become a very big party with membership in the millions. Also the next general election (GE14) will be even more challenging.

"That is why we need more lieutenants (vice-presidents) to assist the general (Umno president and Prime Minister) to face GE14," he told reporters when met at Penampang Umno Youth head Hafiz Sua Abdullah's Aidilfitri open house in Kampung Nampazan near Penampang yesterday.

He added that this was nothing new as other BN component parties had such provisions in their constitutions.

Musa Aman for VP?

On another matter, John said Penampang Umno would give its full backing to Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman if the Sabah Umno chief vied for one of the three vice-president posts at Umno's polls in October.

In Ipoh,  Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hasan Malek, responding to the proposal, said the existing election process in Umno needed to be maintained to ensure the party remained strong.

"All Umno members can offer to contest the post (vice-president)...let the members decide who they want (as vice presidents)," he told reporters after visiting Shahida Yahaya, 27, a ministry staff who was injured in her legs and hands in a road accident on Aug 6, today.

He also suggested that Umno president Najib Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin not be opposed at Umno's polls scheduled to be held in October.

- Bernama