Former Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad has backed urgings for the posts of president and deputy president to remain uncontested during the party polls to be held later this year.

This would also enable Najib Abdul Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin to continue as prime minister and deputy prime minister respectively.

NONE Utusan Malaysia quoted Mahathir as saying that, even though both the posts should be contested in the spirit of democracy, Malaysians "do not understand" the functionality of democracy.

"If someone loses, they will withdraw and form another party and later divide Umno. I agree with competition but if there is competition, Umno will be split into two," he reportedly said after launching a book in Putrajaya today.

"Malaysia already has three Malay parties. There will be four if Umno is divided and over time there will be more. That is why I don't support a contest. Other posts in the party can be contested, but the top two posts, no need to contest."

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