Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says that the Umno supreme council has agreed to allow all positions in the party to be contested.

"All positions, in accordance to the party's rules and constitution, are open for contest, including the position of Umno president, deputy, vice-presidents and also wing leaders.

"Therefore, the issue that some positions will not see contest does not arise.

"I and (acting Umno deputy president) Hishammuddin Hussein are open to anyone contesting the positions," the acting president said at a press conference at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Both Zahid and Hishammuddin are Umno vice-presidents, but have had to temporarily fill the top two posts following Najib Abdul Razak's resignation after BN's first electoral defeat in 61 years.

The posts for Umno deputy president and one vice-president have also been vacant since 2016, after the sacking of Muhyiddin Yassin and the suspension of Mohd Shafie Apdal for speaking out against Najib.

Both Muhyiddin and Shafie later set up their own parties – Bersatu and Parti Warisan Sabah respectively – which were instrumental in contributing to BN's defeat in the recent polls.

Zahid said in the interim, the current Umno leadership will deal with the party's ongoing problems.

Meanwhile, Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said nomination for the party's branch, division and wings will take place from May 19 to June 10.

He added that the nomination process for the Umno supreme council will take place from June 1 to 13.