Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has urged the people to give the newly elected Umno top leadership line-up the chance to prove their capability in making the national transformation agenda a success.

Najib, who is also Umno president, said the party leadership needed not necessarily be replaced as what was important was the team's ability to implement the agenda for the good of the nation.

"The transformation process had started with amendments to the Federal Constitution. Transformation also means that we have a transformation agenda for the nation. The main question is, whether the team chosen by the grassroots is capable of implementing this agenda.

"The answer is, they are committed and I believe this team is capable of translating the national transformation agenda into making Malaysia a developed nation.

"I believe, InsyaAllah (God willing), we can do this," Najib said at a press conference at the Palm Garden Golf Club, Putrajaya.

Also present was Deputy Prime Miniser Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Umno deputy president.

During the Umno elections yesterday, 146,500 delegates from 191 divisions voted based on the electoral college system to elect the three vice-presidents of the party.

Each candidate among the top three in terms of the number of votes garnered received one vote each from a division.

[In the end, all three incumbent vice-presidents - Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Mohd Shafie Apdal and Hishammuddin Hussein - retained their positions.]

Lack of women

On the combination of old and new leaders, Najib said as Umno president he had the power to appoint additional members to the Supreme Council and some of those to be appointed soon would reflect the wishes of the people and party members.

Asked whether the new team was the people's choice, Najib said: "They are chosen by the party, so chosen by 150,000 people, we must respect their choice. It is not the choice like before, made by 2,500 people but this time, 150,000 people have chosen the present line-up.

"But we will strengthen the line-up as I have an option to appoint additional members to the Supreme Council and hopefully, it will reflect a strong team when the time comes," he said.

On the lack of women in the supreme council, Najib said the results definitly could not please all quarters but the party constitution gave power to the president to appoint additional members.

"I will discuss with my deputy on how to strengthen the party through the additional appointments," he said.