HANOI, Oct 18 — Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hopes that delegates will scrutinise every candidate contesting in the party election tomorrow before making their choice.

He said good candidates were those who were qualified, experienced, willing to serve and fight for the party, race, religion and country and were not involved in any malpractices.

Muhyiddin (picture), who is also the deputy prime minister, was confident that the approximately 146,000 delegates from 191 divisions would make a wise decision which would eventually reflect that Umno was a party that was competent and had integrity while the leaders elected were capable, wise, and possessed high morals.

Muhyiddin said this when approached by Malaysian media representatives after delivering a speech at the meeting of Industry Leaders from Malaysia and Vietnam here today which was attended by 60 leaders of various industries.

A total of 71 candidates will contest for 29 posts namely the Deputy Permanent Chairman (three candidates), Vice-President (six) and Supreme Council members (62).

Muhyiddin said the results of the election would be evaluated not only by Umno members but also all Malaysians.

Whatever the outcome, he hoped that Umno would emerge as a stronger party that would be more respected and not tainted by any negative action after the election.

As for the candidates, he said winning and losing in the election was part of the democratic process.

“The vanquished is a party member, and so is the winner. But for those who are not elected, it does not mean that they no longer have any responsibility or role,” he said, reminding that he too had previously lost in the party polls but had continued the party struggles.

He called on the defeated candidates to continue to give their support to those who would be elected even if the majority was merely one vote because it was the democratic process chosen by Umno.

On the possibility of a split in the party after the election process, Muhyiddin said that in any election process there would always be problems but these should not lead to a split in the party.

“If party members are concerned about the image and integrity of the party, then they should not take any action that can be detrimental to Umno,” he added. — Bernama