In an exclusive interview with malaysiakini , deputy Umno Kelantan chief Zaid Ibrahim says he is vying for the vice-president post because he wants to sell his idea - which is to let MPs elect a prime minister and Umno members their president.

Malaysiakini: What is the main reason behind your decision to contest for Umno vice-presidency?

Zaid:

There are many factors, but the main one is that the Umno culture of discouraging contest is not consistent with what Pak Lah (Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) wants. I think he wants a more open environment, not just in government, but in the party as well.

It would not be consistent with the idea of having an open government, if the party - as the backbone of the govenment - is not open. I offered myself to contest in order to test how far ordinary party members like myself, and I think I am qualified (for the post), would fare.

But there are many obstacles in contesting party posts, such as the requirement for candidates to have a minimum number of nominations from Umno divisions.

(Candidates for vice-presidency must obtain nominations from 10 percent of the191 Umno divisions while for president and deputy president, hopefuls must secure 20 and 15 percent respectively)

In my view, one of the reasons why there is money politics is because we make the contest so difficult. This leads members to use money to gain party positions. If the contest is open (in terms of less stringent rules), nobody would bother using money.