Apr 11, 08 8:52pm
The Umno Johor liaison committee has urged party president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to prepare a "succession plan" for his post.
According to sources, this was relayed to Abdullah during a meeting between Umno Johor leaders and the prime minister.
The succession plan was mooted as an early preparation for the next general election.
Although no time-frame has been set for the succession plan, those at the meeting were adamant that such a plan be put in place, said the source.
Following this, Bernama reported that Abdullah will discuss with his deputy Najib Abdul Razak on the transition of power to the latter.
This was revealed by Umno vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin, who said that Abdullah had told the closed-door meeting that he would discuss in detail the power transition plan with Najib.
"The period of transition and so on were not mentioned in detail...matters such as when the transition will take place and so on will be discussed between him (Abdullah) and Najib," Muhyiddin told reporters after attending the meeting at a hotel.
According to sources who spoke to Malaysiakini, the plan was raised by Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman, who also heads the state liaison committee.
The sources said Abdul Ghani stressed that the plan was important in order for the "people to be comfortable" with the party leadership.
However, the sources said, Umno Johor's call for Abdullah to step down was not as harsh as Umno Kedah's yesterday.
"The way we voiced our feelings reflected the Johor culture. We love the prime minister but he must also understand the sentiments of our members," they said.
Immediate solution
Sources said during the meeting many of those present called for the succession plan to be crafted immediately.
"Many felt that the succession plan is an immediate solution which has to be made public," said sources.
The sources claimed that Abdullah said he would consider this but added that he "would not reveal anything to anyone" without elaborating what he meant by this.
The more than two-hour-long meeting also saw a post-mortem being conducted on Umno’s performance in the March 8 polls.
It was during this, sources said, Abdullah admitted to being a contributing factor to the poor results obtained by Umno and Barisan Nasional.
Previously, Malaysiakini reported that a majority of Umno Johor’s 26 division leaders want Abdullah to go on leave and hand over control to his deputy, Najib Abdul Razak.
Since the elections, Abdullah has come under intense pressure to vacate his post. Leading the charge are former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other Umno veterans like Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
BN's setback: PM admits fault
Apr 11, 08 7:23pm
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today admitted that he was among the factors which caused the Barisan Nasional (BN) ruling coalition to suffer heavy losses in the March 8 polls.
Abdullah - who is also the Umno president - said he felt
responsible for making the best efforts to rehabilitate BN and Umno.
"I feel I am the reason for the spoilt votes for the Barisan Nasional. And I feel responsible to do what's best to rehabilitate the BN and Umno," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
The prime minister was speaking to reporters after attending a meeting with Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman, who also heads the state Umno liaison body.
Also present at the meeting were International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Umno vice-president, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad.
However, Education Minister and Umno Youth head Hishammuddin Hussein did not attend the meeting as he is currently in Paris on official duty.
Unfulfilled promises
Meanwhile, Abdullah said he understood that many changes promised to the people earlier had not been fulfilled by the government until now.
He said the changes promised to the people covered various aspects such as the judicial system, eradication of corrupt practices, bringing down the crime rate and fostering inter-racial relations in the country.
Abdullah said the changes implemented by the government needed time before it could show positive results.
"As such, I will continue to give emphasis to bring the changes promised to the people. In fact, they had already been included in the pledges of the BN government in the (election) manifesto in 2004," he said.
Working hard
Abdullah said since 2004 he has been working hard to overcome several problems such as the country’s large financial deficit, economic issues and development as well as the renewal of government-linked companies (GLCs).
As for the policies drafted by the government, the prime minister said the government always ensures that it is accepted by the people and any mistakes are rectified as soon as possible.
On the meeting, Abdullah said they discussed openly about issues concerning Umno’s position.
"I took the opportunity to speak on several issues which must be considered together (by the state Umno liaison body)," he said.
The prime minister said the state liaison body had also forwarded several suggestions to rebuild the party but he declined to elaborate on this.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today admitted that he was among the factors which caused the Barisan Nasional (BN) ruling coalition to suffer heavy losses in the March 8 polls.
Abdullah - who is also the Umno president - said he felt
responsible for making the best efforts to rehabilitate BN and Umno.
"I feel I am the reason for the spoilt votes for the Barisan Nasional. And I feel responsible to do what's best to rehabilitate the BN and Umno," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
The prime minister was speaking to reporters after attending a meeting with Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman, who also heads the state Umno liaison body.
Also present at the meeting were International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Umno vice-president, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad.
However, Education Minister and Umno Youth head Hishammuddin Hussein did not attend the meeting as he is currently in Paris on official duty.
Unfulfilled promises
Meanwhile, Abdullah said he understood that many changes promised to the people earlier had not been fulfilled by the government until now.
He said the changes promised to the people covered various aspects such as the judicial system, eradication of corrupt practices, bringing down the crime rate and fostering inter-racial relations in the country.
Abdullah said the changes implemented by the government needed time before it could show positive results.
"As such, I will continue to give emphasis to bring the changes promised to the people. In fact, they had already been included in the pledges of the BN government in the (election) manifesto in 2004," he said.
Working hard
Abdullah said since 2004 he has been working hard to overcome several problems such as the country’s large financial deficit, economic issues and development as well as the renewal of government-linked companies (GLCs).
As for the policies drafted by the government, the prime minister said the government always ensures that it is accepted by the people and any mistakes are rectified as soon as possible.
On the meeting, Abdullah said they discussed openly about issues concerning Umno’s position.
"I took the opportunity to speak on several issues which must be considered together (by the state Umno liaison body)," he said.
The prime minister said the state liaison body had also forwarded several suggestions to rebuild the party but he declined to elaborate on this.
MCA chief: Snooping spies claim 'unthinkable'
Apr 12, 08 12:34am
MCA president Ong Ka Ting has strongly denied the existence of a clandestine group of ‘spies’ delegated to snoop on his political enemies, describing the accusation as “really unthinkable”.
“This is not true at all. The person who made the claim need to be responsible for what he said... This is really unthinkable,” he told reporters after a four-hour party’s presidential council meeting at the MCA headquarters at Jalan Ampang late yesterday.
Ong said a committee, comprising party veterans, has been set up to investigate the claim.
“We need to investigate the statement, we are of the view that this is a serious accusation. The party doesn’t need this unhealthy culture,” he stressed.
The party president later revealed to Malaysiakini that the three-man committee will be headed by former party deputy secretary-general Dr Sak Cheng Lum whom he described as a credible party veteran.
The other two members are lawyers Roger Tan and Teh Hock Kee, who is also the party’s legal bureau vice-chief.
‘Clear the name of the accused’
Ong said he hoped the committee will be able to furnish the investigation results as soon as possible to clear the name of those who have been accused as behind the ‘spies’.
“This is very unfair to those being accused,” he said.
The revelation of the alleged group of ‘spies’ was first made by a former divisional leader during the first stop of the ‘Save MCA campaign’ in Ipoh last week. The campaign, believed to be initiated by disgruntled party leaders, is demanding for Ong’s resignation.
The group of ‘spies’ was allegedly formed about three years ago to pry into the private lives of the political rivals of a senior official’s political.
The most prominent casualty of their machinations, it was claimed, was former MCA vice-president Dr Chua Soi Lek, who quit active politics after being embroiled in a sex scandal.
Another vice-president Donald Lim - said to be a contender for the No 1 or 2 post in the coming party’s election in October - told Malaysiakini in an interview earlier this week that he was among those targeted by the group.
At the press conference, Ong also announced that party leaders will go on a national roadshow to explain to party delegates on a set of action plan to reinvent and re-engineer the party after the March 8 general election.
The roadshow is also aimed at obtaining feedback from party grassroots and cadres.
Ong however denied the roadshow is being organised to counter the ‘Save MCA campaign’.
“No, there is no such thing as ‘save MCA campaign’, this is only the work of a small group of people trying to think of a name (for their activity). We are providing the leadership (as it is now),” he stressed.
Ong was also tightlipped on his plan in the coming party election. He declined to say whether he would defend his presidency, stressing that his priority now was on party rebuilding.
“We are intensifying our efforts to revitalise the party. We don’t want to send a wrong message that what we are doing now is tuned towards party elections, I would rather not talk about (the party poll) at this juncture,” he reiterated.
PAS’ ‘ulterior motive’
Meanwhile, the MCA chief criticised PAS leader Dr Haron Din’s statement that the Islamic party wants to implement strict Islamic laws, such as the hudud law, once it takes over the federal government.
“This is what we have been cautioning people that PAS has this ulterior motive of trying to force upon the country a system which can’t be accepted by the multi-racial society, especially the non-Muslims.
“We strongly condemn this and their partners (in Pakatan Rakyat) need to openly declare the stand regarding what Haron Din has said,” Ong noted.
The statement of the PAS leader, who is from the conservative ulama group, was first carried in a report in PAS party organ Harakahdaily and was highlighted in a front-page report in Sin Chew Daily yesterday.
Ong nevertheless sidestepped a question that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has previously declared Malaysia an Islamic country, saying the present government still holds firm to the spirit of the constitution.
Deputy president Chan Kong Choy were among several senior party leaders who flanked the president at the press conference held shortly after the presidential council meeting.
MCA president Ong Ka Ting has strongly denied the existence of a clandestine group of ‘spies’ delegated to snoop on his political enemies, describing the accusation as “really unthinkable”.
“This is not true at all. The person who made the claim need to be responsible for what he said... This is really unthinkable,” he told reporters after a four-hour party’s presidential council meeting at the MCA headquarters at Jalan Ampang late yesterday.
Ong said a committee, comprising party veterans, has been set up to investigate the claim.
“We need to investigate the statement, we are of the view that this is a serious accusation. The party doesn’t need this unhealthy culture,” he stressed.
The party president later revealed to Malaysiakini that the three-man committee will be headed by former party deputy secretary-general Dr Sak Cheng Lum whom he described as a credible party veteran.
The other two members are lawyers Roger Tan and Teh Hock Kee, who is also the party’s legal bureau vice-chief.
‘Clear the name of the accused’
Ong said he hoped the committee will be able to furnish the investigation results as soon as possible to clear the name of those who have been accused as behind the ‘spies’.
“This is very unfair to those being accused,” he said.
The revelation of the alleged group of ‘spies’ was first made by a former divisional leader during the first stop of the ‘Save MCA campaign’ in Ipoh last week. The campaign, believed to be initiated by disgruntled party leaders, is demanding for Ong’s resignation.
The group of ‘spies’ was allegedly formed about three years ago to pry into the private lives of the political rivals of a senior official’s political.
The most prominent casualty of their machinations, it was claimed, was former MCA vice-president Dr Chua Soi Lek, who quit active politics after being embroiled in a sex scandal.
Another vice-president Donald Lim - said to be a contender for the No 1 or 2 post in the coming party’s election in October - told Malaysiakini in an interview earlier this week that he was among those targeted by the group.
At the press conference, Ong also announced that party leaders will go on a national roadshow to explain to party delegates on a set of action plan to reinvent and re-engineer the party after the March 8 general election.
The roadshow is also aimed at obtaining feedback from party grassroots and cadres.
Ong however denied the roadshow is being organised to counter the ‘Save MCA campaign’.
“No, there is no such thing as ‘save MCA campaign’, this is only the work of a small group of people trying to think of a name (for their activity). We are providing the leadership (as it is now),” he stressed.
Ong was also tightlipped on his plan in the coming party election. He declined to say whether he would defend his presidency, stressing that his priority now was on party rebuilding.
“We are intensifying our efforts to revitalise the party. We don’t want to send a wrong message that what we are doing now is tuned towards party elections, I would rather not talk about (the party poll) at this juncture,” he reiterated.
PAS’ ‘ulterior motive’
Meanwhile, the MCA chief criticised PAS leader Dr Haron Din’s statement that the Islamic party wants to implement strict Islamic laws, such as the hudud law, once it takes over the federal government.
“This is what we have been cautioning people that PAS has this ulterior motive of trying to force upon the country a system which can’t be accepted by the multi-racial society, especially the non-Muslims.
“We strongly condemn this and their partners (in Pakatan Rakyat) need to openly declare the stand regarding what Haron Din has said,” Ong noted.
The statement of the PAS leader, who is from the conservative ulama group, was first carried in a report in PAS party organ Harakahdaily and was highlighted in a front-page report in Sin Chew Daily yesterday.
Ong nevertheless sidestepped a question that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has previously declared Malaysia an Islamic country, saying the present government still holds firm to the spirit of the constitution.
Deputy president Chan Kong Choy were among several senior party leaders who flanked the president at the press conference held shortly after the presidential council meeting.
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