PUTRAJAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Friday (10 Oct) offered himself to contest the post of Umno deputy president in the party elections in March next year.

The Umno vice-president said the decision was made in the belief that the the Umno to be led by the new president needed a strong and united leadership that would constantly support and help him, especially in efforts to overcome the current challenges. Muhyiddin said he was offering himself for post to be vacated by Deputy Prime Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the advice and views of the grassroot members.

Najib Thursday (9 Oct) offered himself for the presidency after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that he was not defending the post.

Muhyiddin, who is International Trade and Industry Minister, said the top priority now was to rehabilitate and unite the party and give new hope and direction to regain the support of the Malays, and the people in general, for Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN).

"Secondly, I believe that I can play a role with the potential president to restore racial unity and enhance cooperation among the BN component parties by taking into account the current needs and situation so that we become stronger and more prepared to face the 13th general election," he told a news conference here.

Besides Muhyiddin, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhamad Taib and Pulai division head Jazlan Mohamed have offered to vie for the Umno deputy presidency which traditionally comes with the post of deputy prime minister.

Thursday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is an Umno supreme council member, said he was vying for one of the three vice-president's posts instead of the deputy presidency as announced earlier.

All the candidates for the number two post in the party have to get at least 38 nominations from the 191 divisions, which began their meetings Thursday, to qualify for the contest.

Muhyiddin hoped to get the full support of the members and believed that it would forge stronger cooperation to fight for the Malays and the religion.

He said he had informed Najib of his intention to contest the post.

On his chances of winning, he said: "Very bright. I have full confidence. God willing, with the support of all the Umno delegates and leaders, I think I can win." (Bernama)