KUALA LUMPUR, WED:
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will not seek to be re-elected as Umno president.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council meeting today, Abdullah said he would stay on as Prime Minister until March as he wanted to see several initiatives to be implemented before he leaves.
Among them is to reform the judiciary, his effort to fight corruption and the special complaints commission to revamp the police force.
Abdullah also said he would discuss handing over the prime minister’s post to Najib after the Umno elections.
“I know I’ve not been doing well; it’s time for someone else to take over,” he said adding that he would not pick a deputy for his successor, Najib.
He also said he does not want a divided party or a divided government.
The meeting, which started at 3.40pm, was attended by nearly all component party leaders.
By tradition, the Umno president and deputy president become the prime minister and deputy prime minister respectively. Najib is expected to run for president, and if he wins, would become the nation’s sixth prime minister.
Abdullah had said he would decide by Oct 9 whether he would defend his party presidency.
Among them is to reform the judiciary, his effort to fight corruption and the special complaints commission to revamp the police force.
Abdullah also said he would discuss handing over the prime minister’s post to Najib after the Umno elections.
“I know I’ve not been doing well; it’s time for someone else to take over,” he said adding that he would not pick a deputy for his successor, Najib.
He also said he does not want a divided party or a divided government.
The meeting, which started at 3.40pm, was attended by nearly all component party leaders.
By tradition, the Umno president and deputy president become the prime minister and deputy prime minister respectively. Najib is expected to run for president, and if he wins, would become the nation’s sixth prime minister.
Abdullah had said he would decide by Oct 9 whether he would defend his party presidency.
About 40 of his supporters converged at the prime minister’s official residence, Seri Perdana, today, demanding the prime minister to defend the party president post. Led by deputy chairman of the Umno Overseas Club, Datuk Rais Zainuddin, the group, which also comprised members of non-governmental organisations, also held posters of Abdullah.
Chants of “Hidup Pak Lah’ roared when Abdullah, under heavy escort, left the residence for his office for the weekly cabinet meeting at 9.35am.
Several other groups were also seen outside the Umno headquarters. they claimed to be from Perak and Johor Umno divisions and various NGOs.
roups of supporters gathered outside the Umno headquarters here ahead of Abdullah’s
meeting with the supreme council.
The supporters claimed to be from Umno divisions in Perak and Johor, as well as various non-governmental organisations.
Abdullah’s political career began in 1978 when he resigned as the deputy secretary-general of the Culture, Youth & Sports Ministry to contest for the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat.
Following the victory he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Territory Ministry.
Chants of “Hidup Pak Lah’ roared when Abdullah, under heavy escort, left the residence for his office for the weekly cabinet meeting at 9.35am.
Several other groups were also seen outside the Umno headquarters. they claimed to be from Perak and Johor Umno divisions and various NGOs.
roups of supporters gathered outside the Umno headquarters here ahead of Abdullah’s
meeting with the supreme council.
The supporters claimed to be from Umno divisions in Perak and Johor, as well as various non-governmental organisations.
Abdullah’s political career began in 1978 when he resigned as the deputy secretary-general of the Culture, Youth & Sports Ministry to contest for the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat.
Following the victory he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Territory Ministry.
source : NST news.
