Saturday September 27, 2008
Transfer proposal worked out during private meeting
KUALA LUMPUR: The decision to postpone Umno’s general assembly to facilitate an early transition of power was reached by the Umno president and his deputy during a closed-door meeting they had just before the party supreme council met yesterday.
Umno supreme council members said that after the 30-minute meeting, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak presented the proposal to them, and the members unanimously agreed to it.
Quiet word: Abdullah (right) and Najib discussing a point at a press conference after the Umno supreme council special meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. - AZMAN GHANI / The Star The meeting also ended quickly and was held in a cordial manner.
Najib said they had taken into account the views of the divisions and party members.
“This follows Umno’s tradition and at the same time we have taken (note of the) views of the members . So I think there’s a lot of wisdom in today’s decision.”
On whether this meant that Abdullah would step down as party president and Prime Minister in March, he said: “We’ll address that later.”
Abdullah’s political secretary Datuk Alwi Che Ahmad said the postponement of the general assembly to next March was proposed by the party’s management committee, which was chaired by Najib.
“Abdullah was initially not agreeable to this but this is what the committee wants.
He said Abdullah will leave it up to the supreme council to decide,” said Alwi.
Supreme council member Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin said he was happy with “the good decision” as the division meetings would go on as scheduled.
“You can read between the lines,” he said on whether this meant Abdullah would step down earlier than the original handover date of June 2010.
Wanita chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz felt the decision should not receive any objection from members.
Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said the postponement of the party’s polls would help ease the current situation in the party which is “a bit hot right now”.
“This is the best solution to overcome all sorts of speculation. The two leaders have decided on this move to ‘soften’ the whole thing. I think it has something to do with the transition. We have to wait.”
On whether the postponement was made to preserve Abdullah’s dignity, Muhammad said: “I think it is to jaga (take care of) everything — the party, honour, the heated situation.”
Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said they supported Abdullah’s decision as it was aimed at strengthening Umno.
Umno Youth vice-head Khairy Jamaluddin told Bernama in Kemaman that the decision to postpone the general assembly could complicate the campaigns of those standing in the election.
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