Those vying for positions in the forthcoming Umno polls should not use the names of top leaders to shore up support, said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today.

Najib, who is also Umno deputy president, said candidates should instead contest based on their own integrity.

"I also hope Umno members will not be taken in by claims that the particular candidate had the blessings of the top Umno leadership," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

The deputy premier also called on Umno delegates, who will be casting their ballots at the party annual meet come September, to pick leaders based on their merit.

"We practise the principle of meritocracy in other sectors and so in Umno also we should hold to the same principle that leaders should be elected based on their merit," he said.

No camps please

Najib said this when asked to comment on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's call to Umno members not to form camps in the run up to the party election.

The deputy premier said he wholly agreed with Abdullah that there should not be such camps either at the national or divisional levels.

Yesterday, the prime minister warned that forming camps or groups could lead to the ranks in Umno breaking up.

"I hope whoever wants to contest, go ahead and contest. Do not wait for there to be camps," he reportedly said.

"It is for the members to gauge whether the aspiring candidate deserves or not to be their leader. So what is the use of camps?" he added.

Abdullah said camps only served to start quarrels among members and hence weaken the party.

This will be the first party election under the stewardship of Abdullah, who took over from former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad last November.