 Print Article
|
His deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, for the first time yesterday said he would discuss the 'question of time and formula' with his boss.
But Datuk Seri Abdullah yesterday brushed aside the calls, insisting he would seek re-election as party leader.
When asked if he would be contesting in the party's polls in December, he shot back: 'Why shouldn't I contest?'
He reiterated that he would hand over power eventually to his deputy, but not before the party polls.
Umno's president, by convention, becomes prime minister.
'Of course I want the transfer to be smooth. I do not want to leave the party in a state of chaos. I would not say: 'Najib, good luck. That's your problem, not mine.' That's not the way,' Datuk Seri Abdullah told a news conference.
Asked whether the transfer of power would be completed by next year or by 2010, he said: 'I cannot reveal that to you, sorry.'
But Datuk Seri Najib, who is on a nationwide tour to gauge feedback from the Umno ground, yesterday apparently had to placate angry Perak divisional leaders by telling them that he would broach the subject of leadership transition with PM Abdullah.
He told a news conference later: 'Let me and the Prime Minister have consultations on the matter when the time comes. Let the matter be discussed because the question of time and formula and so on have yet to be determined. Let the matter be discussed well.'
Some Perak divisional leaders called on Datuk Seri Abdullah to chart the transition soon, with one even suggesting that it be done before Umno branches begin meeting in mid-July.
As in internal post-election meetings earlier in Penang and Kedah, the Prime Minister bore the brunt of the blame for Umno's poor showing in the general election last month.
Perak, Penang, Kedah and Selangor fell to the opposition on March 8 and the Barisan Nasional coalition failed to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time in nearly 40 years.
Many Umno leaders have also come out in favour of outlining a leadership transition plan.
Foreign Minister Rais Yatim yesterday said: 'If there is a scheduled succession plan, it is more logical. Branches and divisions must be frank enough to say what they want. I subscribe to the view that a succession plan has to be formulated immediately.'
International Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, an influential Umno vice-president who is seen as a close ally of PM Abdullah, made similar remarks over the weekend, warning that the party would 'fade away' if there were no immediate changes to the leadership.
'I think the sentiments are boiling at the grassroots. Therefore, if change does not happen in Umno, many adverse things will surface,' he told the Umno-controlled Malay-language Mingguan Malaysia over the weekend.
The growing calls for leadership change has fed speculation that PM Abdullah may be forced to throw in the towel sooner rather than later.
'I suspect he will go this year. Everywhere he goes, the delegates are telling him to reconsider his position and prepare for a smooth transition of power,' political analyst James Chin was quoted as saying yesterday.
