KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 6, 2008) : Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has said he will make an announcement tomorrow or Wednesday on whether he will defend his position as Umno president or make way for his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak at the party polls which has now been postponed to March.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with stakeholders of the Bio Malaysia 2008 conference and exhibition which will begin tomorrow, he said he will be meeting with Barisan Nasional (BN) representatives on Wednesday -- the day of the cabinet meeting -- to brief them on the transition plan in Umno.
Questioned if the influx of members offering themselves for deputy president’s post in Umno was an indication that Najib may become his contender or that he was making way for him, Abdullah said: “Too early to say.”
Asked of these people (those offering themselves for deputy presidency) were jumping the gun in their expectations, he said: “That’s their choice. Whether they want to make an early announcement or wait, it is entirely up to them. After a while, some of them will drop out and one or two will be left.”
Abdullah said for now, he wanted to focus on the reforms that he had promised the rakyat.
“I know the law minister (referrring to Datuk Zaid Ibrahimi who resigned) is not around anymore to undertake this but that does not mean that it must stop…it (judicial reform) is not his idea, it was mine in the 2004 manifesto and what I promised I must deliver,” he added.
Abdullah had recently announced that the party polls originally slated for December would be deferred to March and that he would make a decision by Oct 9 whether he will defend his presidential post.
Responding to questions on the Hindu Right’s Action Force members who turned up at his Hari Raya open house, Abdullah expressed disappointment with the conduct of the group.
“I was told by security personnel that they wanted to come in for the Hari Raya open house,” he said, adding that the group was initially prevented from entering.
Abdullah said after consulting Najib and fellow ministers, they were allowed in because it was an open house for all Malaysians and there should be no hindrance to any groups to attend and wish them Selamat Hari Raya.
“So in that spirit, I told security to allow them in; they came in and there was a lot of noise. I don’t know about what, but they came, greeted me and my wife and the others who were waiting to shake hands.
“However, someone observing told me ‘Pak Lah, did you realise that only one of them said Selamat Hari Raya to you’.
“The rest I clearly remember them saying ‘Hapuskan ISA! Lepaskan Hindraf, Hapuskan ISA, Lepaskan Hindraf!.- that’s all they said to me,” he added.
He said the group also snubbed some of his ministers who were present.
Speaking on the development of bio-technology in the country, Abdullah said the RM1.3 billion industry has a growth rate of 22%.
He said efforts are being stepped up to research and develop bio-fuel using palm oil, jatropa and coconut.
Research in the areas of industrial biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology and health biotechnology are being enhanced. - http://sun2surf.com/
Malaysiakini: Abdullah to decide within two days
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Questioned if the influx of members offering themselves for deputy president’s post in Umno was an indication that Najib may become his contender or that he was making way for him, Abdullah said: “Too early to say.”
Asked of these people (those offering themselves for deputy presidency) were jumping the gun in their expectations, he said: “That’s their choice. Whether they want to make an early announcement or wait, it is entirely up to them. After a while, some of them will drop out and one or two will be left.”
Abdullah said for now, he wanted to focus on the reforms that he had promised the rakyat.
“I know the law minister (referrring to Datuk Zaid Ibrahimi who resigned) is not around anymore to undertake this but that does not mean that it must stop…it (judicial reform) is not his idea, it was mine in the 2004 manifesto and what I promised I must deliver,” he added.
Abdullah had recently announced that the party polls originally slated for December would be deferred to March and that he would make a decision by Oct 9 whether he will defend his presidential post.
Responding to questions on the Hindu Right’s Action Force members who turned up at his Hari Raya open house, Abdullah expressed disappointment with the conduct of the group.
“I was told by security personnel that they wanted to come in for the Hari Raya open house,” he said, adding that the group was initially prevented from entering.
Abdullah said after consulting Najib and fellow ministers, they were allowed in because it was an open house for all Malaysians and there should be no hindrance to any groups to attend and wish them Selamat Hari Raya.
“So in that spirit, I told security to allow them in; they came in and there was a lot of noise. I don’t know about what, but they came, greeted me and my wife and the others who were waiting to shake hands.
“However, someone observing told me ‘Pak Lah, did you realise that only one of them said Selamat Hari Raya to you’.
“The rest I clearly remember them saying ‘Hapuskan ISA! Lepaskan Hindraf, Hapuskan ISA, Lepaskan Hindraf!.- that’s all they said to me,” he added.
He said the group also snubbed some of his ministers who were present.
Speaking on the development of bio-technology in the country, Abdullah said the RM1.3 billion industry has a growth rate of 22%.
He said efforts are being stepped up to research and develop bio-fuel using palm oil, jatropa and coconut.
Research in the areas of industrial biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology and health biotechnology are being enhanced. - http://sun2surf.com/
Malaysiakini: Abdullah to decide within two days
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