Defence Minister and Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein has dismissed talk that he rose up the party and government ranks because of his family ties.

Hishammuddin, who is prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's cousin, son to third prime minister Hussein Onn and grandson of Umno founder Onn Jaafar, said he had got to where he is because of merit.

"One must remember that when I was chosen to be in the government previously, (fourth prime minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad was not my grandfather.

"When I was helming the Education Ministry, Pak Lah (fifth prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) was not my father.

"(Former Gerakan president) Dr Lim Keng Yaik was not my cousin. So why are family ties a consideration now?" he asked in an interview with the New Straits Times .

Hishammuddin said that he served his dues in the primary industries industry under Lim, in the international trade and industry ministry under then minister Rafidah Aziz as well as in the Youth and Sports Ministry.

"I am now handling two ministries, one (transport) in an acting capacity. So in offering myself as Umno vice-president, people can assess me from those days.

"This is not a position that can be bought or pawned. Umno is not like that," he said.

Hishammuddin said that he is grateful that the only thing people can criticise him on is his family ties to Najib.

"Alhamdulillah, I have no sex or corruption scandals...if that is the best they can throw at me, I am thankful as I cannot decide on being Najib's cousin. I cannot do anything about it," he said.

Hishammuddin's mother Suhaila Noah is the sister to Najib's mother Rahah Noah.

Hishammuddin is defending his post in the October party polls, as will the two other vice-presidents Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Mohd Shafie Apdal.