Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob today said if stability already existed within Umno then there was no need to have a contest for the top two positions.

He said Umno members should be more concerned about championing the interests of the people rather than personal political ambitions.

He said to him the question of party post was secondary as the primary concern would be to fulfil the pledges made to the people as contained in the election manifesto of the Barisan Nasional (BN).

"In this respect, I liken myself to a coconut husk, a bubble or a dry leaf floating on the water, wherever it stops, that will be my place," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

Adnan was responding to comments on the contest for the posts of Umno president and deputy president in the coming party elections, scheduled for September.

"I feel that the intention is no good if there is a suggestion that the posts of president and deputy President should be contested," he said.

Adnan, who is also Pahang Umno Chief, said both Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak were doing well in their efforts to bring greater development and stability to the country.

He said if there were to be election in other posts, it should be in a brotherly spirit rather than contest.

Abdullah has been appointed Umno president after taking over from Dr Mahathir Mohamad while Najib is carrying out the duties of the deputy president.

Rafidah/Sharizat needed

In a related development, a Wanita Umno leader today said the wing still needed the combination of Rafidah Aziz and Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to lead it for the sake of unity and strength.

Its information chief Seripah Noli Syed Hussin said a meeting of the movement's executive council in Kuala Lumpur yesterday agreed that the two leaders should not be challenged in the coming party elections.

"We don't see any shortcomings in the present leadership. In fact, it has given strength to Umno," she said.

Seripah Noli said the move not to contest the posts of Wanita Umno head and vice head did not mean that there was no democracy in the movement.

"We are being pragmatic and practical, not that there is no democracy," she added.

She said in the absence of contests, the movement could focus its attention to party works and society.

"So, time is not wasted for politicking, campaigning and lobbying," she said.

Seripah Noli said contests could also split the movement and Wanita Umno members should consider this before allowing themselves to be used by certain quarters wanting to pit one leader against another.

"We urge Wanita Umno members not to fall prey to such attempt. Don't allow others to take the opportunity to divide us," she said.

Seripah Noli also said that Rafidah and Sharizat had no part in the decision made by the executive council at the meeting.