KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 —  Umno leaders had acted responsibly and showed maturity when they agreed to leave the party’s top two posts unchallenged, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today after his walkover victory as Umno president.

The prime minister said the victory would allow him and his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who also retained his post unopposed today, to concentrate on efforts to consolidate the party and run the country without facing pressure from within or outside Umno.

“This shows the responsible attitude of members who regard the president and deputy president as the party’s pillar of strength,” he was quoted as saying on Bernama Online at a press conference before leaving for United States today.

Najib (picture) noted that party leaders still had the option of putting themselves up for the contest, particularly following amendments made to the party constitution to allow direct bids by interested candidates.

But he noted that they still opted out of the race for the top two posts, which he said was a show of maturity.

“I would like to thank Umno members at all levels for their support which ensures that the democratic process runs smoothly and under control,” he added.

At the close of nominations for the party election today, no one had come forward to challenge either Najib or his deputy Muhyiddin, a clear nod in the direction of the duo’s leadership.

This came despite past speculation that Najib’s position as the leader of Umno could be wobbly after he failed to lead Barisan Nasional (BN) into regaining is lost two-thirds parliamentary majority in Election 2013.

Adding salt to wound, since the general election, prominent blogs aligned to the party such as bigdogdotcom and outsyedthebox began turning up their criticism against Najib. And with the party’s election drawing nearer, their volume has only grown louder.

They are also not a force to be trifled with; ostensibly created to protect and promote the conservative interests of those aligned with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, they were partly credited for the campaign that saw Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi forced out to make way for Najib in 2009.

In recent weeks, Dr Mahathir himself has also leapt into the fray with cautionary notes to members of the BN anchor party that it would eventually die if it is not rejuvenated.

The former prime minister of 22 years has also said the founding leaders of Umno and their successors are now old, with the level of their contributions dwindling even as those around them repeat stories of their capability and prowess as leaders.

According to former New Straits Times (NST) group editor chief Datuk A. Kadir Jasin in a recent blog posting, the current average age of Umno’s vice-presidents made of Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal is just over 53 years old.

Added with those of challengers Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, the average age was brought up to 57 years old.

Kadir also noted that Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak is 60 years old, deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is 66, while women’s wing chief Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil is 60.

Youth wing chief Khairy Jamaluddin is the youngest vice-president at 37 years old, he pointed out.

“Is Umno barren of young leaders because of a block against the educated young ones or is their progress in the party hierarchy stunted from being cut down?

“The common members of the Supreme Council are also not encouraging in the aspects of age and calibre. Even the ones who are fairly young are not really “hot” in their qualifications, personalities and characters,” he added.