KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 — Sungai Besar Umno chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos today suggested that a proposal should be made in the upcoming Umno general assembly that the positions of party president and deputy president should not be challenged.

In a statement this evening, Jamal said that this was because Umno was still in a "fragile and unstable” state.

"Even though Umno practices a democratic system, what is happening is that losers who are unable to accept defeat have made moves so that winners are pushed to resign their position, as what happened before the selection in 2018,” he said.

This is seemingly in reference to when former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak stepped down from his position as Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman after the party and coalition faced unprecedented losses in the 14th general elections.

Current Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been facing similar calls to step down after Umno only won 26 of the 120 seats it contested in the 15th general elections held last month.

To note, Zahid has since been appointed as deputy prime minister in the coalition government headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Umno general assembly is scheduled to be held from January 11 to 14, following a postponement announced last week by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

Ahmad said that the previous dates, December 21 to 24, coincided with the school holidays and many delegates would rather travel during that time.