Umno headquarters cannot stop the menteris besar (MBs) and chief ministers (CMs) from constesting Supreme Council (MT) posts in the party elections in October.

Secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor said today Umno is a democratic party and thus allow members to contest posts without any restriction.

"It is up to the individuals concerned and we cannot stop them. However, feedback received from the divisions is that they do not want the posts of Umno president and deputy president to be contested."

The Federal Territories Minister was responding to a suggestion from Veteran Umno secretary-general Mustapha Yaakub that MBs and CMs give the MT seats a miss as they are more needed at state level.

Mustapha said the MBs and CMs should focus on efforts to strengthen Umno and BN in their respective states as preparation for the next general election.

Tengku Adnan said 40 percent of the 20,000 Umno branches nationwide had conducted their annual meetings and a special committee was set at Umno headquarters to solve problems.

Earlier, he attended the 56th 'Bulan Kemerdekaan,' Family Day and Aidilfitri celebration of the National Audit Department at Paya Indah Wetlands, near Dengkil.

- Bernama