Kedah Umno chairperson Mukhriz Mahathir wants the party elections to be held soon.

"I am proposing this because I love the party. The situation is very tense now," he said at the Jerlun delegates meeting in Kubang Pasu.

"We want to bring change in the party. Leaders come and go.

"My dad was also the PM and although he was PM for a long time, he eventually retired.

"So let our members decide whether we are qualified to hold the post, and that includes me.

"This is to give the party a chance to prepare for the coming national polls slated for 2018," said the Kedah menteri besar.

Also present at the delegates meeting is sacked minister and Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal.

Shafie was dropped together with former DPM Muhyiddin Yassin, reportedly after questioning the debt-laden 1Malaysian Development Berhad (1MDB).

Embattled party president Najib Razak announced in June that party elections, initially scheduled next year, has been postponed for 18 months.

'Choosing leaders part of democracy'

Mukhriz expressed sadness over Shafie's sacking from the cabinet by Prime Minister Najib Razak on July 28.

However, Mukhriz said he accepted the fact that the appointment and sacking of a minister is in the hands of the prime minister.

But he reminded the delegates that Shafie was chosen by Umno delegates as one of Umno's three vice-presidents.

"I know how that feels because I also contested but failed to be elected,' Mukhriz said.

Mukhriz said all those elected by delegates must be defended as this is part of the democratic practice in the party.

"If we want transformation, we don't sack here or there but it must be through party elections," Mukhriz said.

Mukhriz then told the delegates to listen to advice and constructive criticism from Shafie.

He said what happen to Shafie can happen to any Umno leader.

"I’d rather be rejected by Umno members than the people because if we are rejected by the people, we will fail.

"We fell to PAS before so do not be too comfortable," he added.

'Internal polls a way to solve party problems'

At the press conference later, Mukhriz explained he proposed that party polls be allowed to be carried out as there are new developments that has raised concerns among party members.

He added that one way to strengthen the party is to have the polls which have been scheduled for this year.

He does not agree with the excuses to postpone the polls just because of fear that the party would fall apart.

"So we should allow the polls to break the party apart.

"We should be mature enough to know we enter the national polls with the purpose of winning.

"One way to resolve problems in the party is to have an internal elections," he stressed.

Mukhriz said the reasons given to postpone the polls is always to preserve the party's unity in the run up to the national polls.

He added that he has yet to propose the matter at the Kedah Umno chapter, but Jerlun division has accepted his proposal.

He knows he is a minority voice in the matter.

However, he said he would concede with the party's supreme council if all agreed that polls should be postponed but urged that the decision be reviewed.

His proposal was earlier supported by Shafie.