Former federal minister Zaid Ibrahim has named former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, former premier Mahathir Mohamad, and Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali as likely candidates to step into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's shoes.

He said that he believed the three have what it takes to administer the government if Umno is toppled in the next general election.

"I believe that Anwar, Mahathir can be PM. A new face like Azmin, he is a good leader, I think there are some from Amanah as well. Even in Umno, there's Muhyiddin Yassin," he told Malaysiakini , FMT and Berita Daily in a joint interview today.

However he said that he was only giving examples because there were a lot of individuals that have the potential to replace Najib.

"There are many - it's not that I am nominating anyone," he emphasised.

Zahid posited that a prime minister should ideally be picked by those who no longer want Najib and his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the top two leaders of the nation.

New line-up

Prior to this, Zaid said that Mahathir should be given a chance to form a new leadership line-up and a group to work together to save Malaysia.

Meanwhile, when asked if Umno should be disbanded, Zaid said that Najib must withdraw from the Malay party or it may well happen.

He opined that to achieve that end, those opposed to Najib's leadership must unite so that they have the mass to defeat Umno in the coming polls.

"We must persevere through the coming general elections and win. So those who oppose Najib need to gather enough seats. For that, all quarters must unite," he concluded.