Malaysia Notes

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will step down as Prime Minister in June 2010 and hand over power to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Abdullah, who is Umno president, said he would seek nomination to contest the party’s top post in the December party elections and Najib, who is his deputy, would go for the number two party post.

He, however, said he would not be leading Barisan Nasional into the next general election because by that time, the country would have Najib as its new Prime Minister.

“I appreciate his friendship and co-operation and we work well together in the party and Government.

“I chose Najib to be my successor because I am confident that he will be able to lead the party well,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Abdullah made the announcement after chairing an Umno supreme council meeting and a briefing with division chiefs and leaders from the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings.

He believed the Umno divisions accepted his transition plan well because “they gave me a standing ovation.”

On his decision to quit as Prime Minister, Abdullah said: “I feel a bit of sadness of course but nothing more than that because I feel more a sense of achievement.”

He said he felt that the transition should be carried out through a process which was well accepted by Umno so that the successor “can be the leader of the whole party and not to half a party or to geng dia saja (only his gang of supporters).”

Explaining why he chose the two-year time frame, Abdullah said this would give him enough time to carry out the various projects and programmes which he had planned together with Najib.

It would also give him time to strengthen and restore the party.

“It will also give Najib ample time to prepare and be ready for the general election which must be held by 2013,” he added.

Abdullah denied he was bowing out due to pressure. He also denied his decision to step down was a victory for the opposition.

“One day, I have to hand over my post to my successor and this is the way I choose. It is a process and this process takes some time and it is comfortable for all.”

Abdullah brushed aside suggestions that his plans to hand over power to Najib would be affected by the case of the murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

To a question whether his successor would continue all projects started by Abdullah, he said he believed that those that produced good results would go on.

“But I will not insist. Once someone else takes over and runs the government, he (the new Prime Minister) will be running it the way that he thinks best.”

Asked if he would change his mind about quitting, Abdullah said: “No. I have made my decision.”

On party elections in December, Abdullah said the supreme council meeting did not make any “no-contest” ruling.

He said divisions were still free to nominate whoever they wanted.

Kedah became the first state to endorse the transition plan during its state liaison meeting in Kuala Lumpur last night chaired by its chief Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.