Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has reminded all Umno members to practice 'zero dispute' to avert any split within the party.

The Umno deputy president made the call through party supreme council member Dr Abdullah Md Zin at the opening of the Kuala Nerus Umno delegates conference in Terengganu today.

A dispute and split whether at the grassroots or top leadership level would only cause the party to lose and give advantage to the opposition, he said.

"Datuk Seri Najib has given a mandate for me to say that Umno's strength is due to solidarity. We have to minimise disputes because normally, if there are disputes, the opposition wins.

"If there is no dispute, the opposition will find it very hard to win elections. That's why, unity within the party is very important to ensure a big victory for us in the next election," Abdullah was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Abdullah who is minister in the Prime Minister's Department was representing Najib at the function.

Remember 1999 polls

In his message, Najib reminded Umno members that the party's defeat to PAS in Terengganu in the 1999 general election was due to a split and conflict in Umno and not because of the opposition's strength.

Back then, Umno was divided over the sacking of former deputy premier and party deputy president Anwar Ibrahim by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

This time around, it is Mahathir who is threatening to split the ruling party due to his differences with his handpicked successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Meanwhile, Najib also reminded Umno members that solidarity and confidence towards party struggles would make it easy for the leaders to focus on the work to develop the country.

"The leadership lineup should also practice noble values and be sincere in the struggle because they will enhance confidence of the members and simultaneously strengthen the unity within Umno," he said.

Tomorrow, Mahathir will be contesting to represent the Kubang Pasu Umno division in Kedah to the annual general assembly in Kuala Lumpur this November.

Over the past months, the former premier has been on a warpath against Abdullah over certain decisions made by the current administration, namely to cancel the half-bridge project.

Mahathir has also accused the Umno leadership of attempting to muzzle him and prevent him from speaking to party members. This allegation has been denied.