The hope for Umno's long-serving elected representatives to make way for young leaders to be fielded in the next general election was among the matters touched by Umno President Najib Abdul Razak during his briefing in conjunction with Umno General Assembly 2012 here today.

Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Najib had wanted the process to be implemented so that the rejuvenation of the party could be done.

He said the Umno president had also convened a meeting with him and the two other Umno vice presidents - Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Mohd Shafie Apdal - to discuss the selection of Umno candidates for the upcoming general election.

"However, the final decision on the candidates will be made by the president and his deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, based on the winnable candidate criteria," Zahid told a press conference after attending the president's briefing at the Putra World Trade Centre here today.

Ahmad Zahid also said that during the briefing, Najib had also implied that the 13th general election would not be held at year's end.

Ahmad Zahid said Najib had also expressed confidence that BN could win the 13th general election based on the surveys conducted by independent bodies to see the people's support for BN.

"None of the surveys showed that Umno cannot win in the next general election," he said.

Ahmad Zahid also said that the party was now on the 'fifth gear' to face the general election.

"The president has also reminded Umno leaders at the grassroots to work harder to ensure that the people will continue to give their mandates to BN," he said, adding that Najib also hoped that the delegates would not raise issues that will cause the party to lose the support from non-Malay voters.

- Bernama