Stop Holding Emergency Meetings, Abdullah Tells Umno Divisions

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) — All Umno divisions have been urged to stop holding emergency meetings to demand a power transition in the party before December. Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said it was better for such moves not made because the leadership had understood the wish and views of the grassroots towards the government.

"What the people want is for us to focus on matters relating to the people's interests with the energy that we have.

"The people support us because we have programmes that we will carry out. If we do not carry them out, however strong the party may be the people will not accept it.

"So, our promises to the people must be honoured," he told reporters after chairing an Umno Supreme Council meeting here Monday.

Abdullah said internal party problems should not be let to absorb into the responsibility to the people.

"Democratic processes in the party will run during December elections. At the time, we cast our votes. No need to blow it out, no need.

"Actually, we know them all and all people know what they are doing, what they are capable of, what they can do, what wrong they have done, what their shortcomings are.

"The time will come for us to meet and at that time, we will decide what should be decided," he said.

Abdullah said if the move to hold an emergency meeting was aimed at sending a certain message to him pertaining to a power transition, it was not necessary because many statements on the matter were published in local newspapers.

So far, three Umno divisions — Cheras, Gua Musang and Batu Pahat — have held emergency meetings calling for the power transition to be speeded up.

Asked on the number of votes received by Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar during the election for the post of Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker, Abdullah said it was a good development.

It showed Wan Junaidi's appointment received backings from opposition members of Parliament (MPs), he said.

Wan Junaidi who is MP for Santubong obtained 157 votes during the secret ballot whilst Barisan Nasional MPs totalled 140.