JOHOR BARU (BERNAMA) - Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has been urged to consider contesting for the party's presidency in the upcoming election.

The proposal was made by Tebrau Umno division chief, Datuk Maulizan Bujang, who insisted it was his personal opinion and that of several division heads in the state.

"We strongly urge Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein to consider contesting the post of Umno president in the coming party election," he told reporters after attending the Johor Umno liaison committee meeting chaired by its chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Maulizan, who is also former Tiram assemblyman, said it was believed that leaders like Hishammuddin and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin would help the party gain support again from the youth.

"Today, we must accept the fact that the party leadership should not be viewed only in the form of internal party support, but we also need to take into account the community's support as a whole, especially the young people who are expecting Umno to recover," he said.

"Many at the grassroots level are hoping Umno will recover with a new leadership."