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EXCERPTS of Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s press conference after the special supreme council meeting where he announced that the party’s general assembly and elections have been postponed to March while the dates for divisional meetings remain unchanged from Oct 9 to Nov 9.
Q: Why has Umno postponed the Supreme Council elections? A: To facilitate an early transition. Q: An early transition? Does this mean you won’t be defending your post in March? A: I have not announced any decision as far as this particular point is concerned. And I intend to do it before the divisional meetings begin. Q: Do you think the decision to postpone the Umno general assembly will be accepted by members? A: If all the Supreme Council members are agreeable to it, this is not something that causes difficulty. But if we were to postpone the divisional meeting, then it would affect the other procedures and the other (divisional level) elections. That would be difficult. Q: Will you go on leave soon? A: Am I going on leave? How do you know? No, I am not going on leave. I have got a lot of work to do. A lot of work to do. I am not going on leave. Q: What do mean by “facilitate early transition”? A: To do whatever is needed and whatever I need to implement. The decision (when to hand over) will be made by me and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Q: Are you sticking to the original plan? A: If we are talking about an early transition, then the original 2010 plan no longer arises. There is no more 2010. Q: Are you prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice? Are you prepared to step down if it is better for the party? A: As far I am concerned, I love my party. Even under the most difficult circumstances, I never left. I did not join (Parti Melayu Semangat) 46. I did not join any other party. I have never been on the platform of the opposition party to speak against Umno. I have never had any record of going against the party at all at any time. Q: Is the early transition because you are under tremendous pressure? A: No it’s got nothing to do with that. It’s got to do with my work. When I am done with what I want to do, then it’s over. Q: Do you feel that your colleagues in the Umno Supreme Council are asking for you to leave earlier? A: No there’s nothing like that. Maybe there are two or three people who feel that way. But for most there is no reason to pressure because they know my relationship with Datuk Seri Najib is a good one. And that in any matter, we have a good understanding, so no problem should arise from this. Q: Is it right to say that you will not be contesting the party post in March? A: It will be my decision, right or not. Whether to contest or not, it will be my decision. You can go on guessing but the decision will be mine. - The Star
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