Some 200 rebel Umno branch leaders have challenged their president Najib Razak to face a party election at the general assembly next year, in order to “cleanse the party” and restore the rakyat’s confidence.

Their spokesperson Kampung Railway Umno branch member Mohamad Said Midon said this is because grassroots members have allegedly lost confidence in Najib as party president and the cleansing process is necessary to ensure Umno’s relevance.