Sabah Umno liaison committee deputy chief Salleh Said Keruak today rubbished talk that Kuala Lumpur wanted certain leaders to be elected in the Umno elections slated for Saturday.

Describing the rumours as a desperate campaign strategy of leaders who have no confidence in their leadership, he said the top Umno leadership had not instructed Sabah Umno to follow any "preferred list" for the three positions of vice-president.

NONE"Winning or losing is part of the democratic process. I believe the (Umno) president and deputy president will leave it to the wisdom and conscience of Umno delegates to make their choice based on the democratic practice adopted by the party," he told Bernama.

Salleh, who is also the speaker of the state legislative assembly, was commenting on the latest rumours that the top Umno leadership in Kuala Lumpur wanted certain leaders to be elected in the party elections.

He said Umno delegates were free to assess each candidate and choose based on their merits, in line with the principle of democracy.

"But, what is more important is for Umno to be united after the party elections as all leaders will have a role to play in moving the party forward.

"Our task is clear; we must ensure that the party will be on the right path to perform better in the next (general) election and to give (Prime Minister) Najib Razak his deserved mandate to lead," he said.

Six vying for three VP's posts

Umno's incumbent vice-presidents - Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Hishammuddin Hussein and Shafie Apdal - are defending their positions in the elections.

They are being challenged by Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir, former Malacca chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam and former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.

Umno delegates will elect three vice-presidents and 25 supreme council members in the party elections on Saturday under the newly introduced electoral college system.

Najib and Muhyiddin Yassin have been returned unopposed as party president and deputy president, respectively.

- Bernama