Umno supreme council member Nazri Abdul Aziz has suggested that Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is made the party's advisor as his wisdom is needed by Umno.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Nazri claimed that the Umno veteran loved the party too much to split it by going for the presidency at the coming June 30 party elections.

"I don't think Tengku Razaleigh is interested (in contesting the top post) because he loves Umno. He doesn't want to split the party," he said.

"Being a wise, old man, he can be made an advisor."

Nazri has earlier expressed his support for Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Annuar Musa as Umno's new president and deputy president.

"I support Zahid for unity, for stability and for the continuity (of Umno). It is very important to support him now," he said.

Former prime minister Najib Razak resigned as BN chairperson and Umno president following an unprecedented defeat in the May 9 general election.

Umno, which is now left with only 54 parliamentary seats out of 222, needs to choose a party leadership that able to rebuild the public confidence it once enjoyed.

So far, Zahid and businessperson-blogger Rahmat Azim Abdul Aziz have confirmed their decisions to run for the presidency at the party polls while Razaleigh has yet to decide. Nominations for top party posts will close on Sunday.

Malaysiakini reported yesterday that Razaleigh may not go for the top party post amidst moves to name him as parliamentary opposition leader.

Nazri, however, denied there was a proposal where Zahid is given the president’s post while Razaleigh, the opposition leader.

Nazri had suggested last month that Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin be made opposition leader.

Nazri also said he would not make any request for Razaleigh not to go for the party presidency.

"This is a free country and a free party. If everybody wants to contest, then let it be," he said.

"If Ku Li wants to contest, he is welcome.”