KOTA BARU, June 13 — Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak have reached an agreement on the right time for a leadership change, the prime minister said today.
Reiterating that he and Najib enjoyed good working relations, Abdullah said they have mutually agreed on the "best time" for a leadership transition.
Abdullah raised the issue as some people were still suspicious of the relationship between him and Najib, including Kelantan Umno leaders who raised the matter at the Kelantan Umno liaison committee meeting chaired by the Umno president here today.
"Datuk Seri Najib and I have decided on the right time for me to hand over the premiership to him. We've no problems and we enjoy good working relations.
"The leadership change will definitely take place at the right time," he said at a luncheon with senior government officials and community leaders.
Earlier, Abdullah chaired a two-hour Kelantan Umno meeting. Abdullah is in Kelantan for a one-day visit.
Najib said in London yesterday that he would not challenge Abdullah for power because as a "true Umno man" he would not risk destroying the party his father had built.
He described himself as a loyal party member who subscribed to an orderly leadership change, as has been the Umno convention.
Abdullah said the people should stop speculating on his relationship with Najib as such talk was of no benefit to anyone.
"It's important for everyone to see the relationship between me and Najib as very crucial to strengthen Umno and the government and to implement the development projects and programmes that have been planned," he said.
The prime minister expressed his gratitude for the support given to him to continue to lead the nation and Umno.
He promised to work hard for the country, party and the people.
"I really value and appreciate the support given to me. If I am accorded solid support, it will spur me to work even harder for the party and the government," he said.
Though the people's overall support for Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) took a beating as evident from the general election results, Abdullah urged party supporters not to give up but continue to soldier on.
"As fighters, we should not give up or be frustrated in pursuing our struggles for the race and religion. The term disappointment should not be in the our dictionary.
"It's a taboo for warriors to retreat before surrendering. Warriors must continue to soldier on. If you have already surrendered, there's no point in fighting on, just wait to die," he said.
Abdullah said the government of today was actually not weak though the BN failed to garner a two-thirds majority in the last general election.
"The present government must think of the majority support for us and this majority wants us to soldier on," he said.
The prime minister said he was confident that Umno would re-emerge as a strong party as what it was going through now was something normal.
"I believe we can recover and return to our original strength. There are times we lose some seats and currently many people are angry but this will not be forever," he said.
He also said the federal government would never victimise states under opposition rule, including Kelantan, as it did not want the people to suffer.
"The poor need government assistance to eke out a living," he added.
This is AbdulIah's first visit to Kelantan after the March 8 general election to explain to Umno leaders and the people on the latest political scenario.
Present were the prime minister's wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, Kelantan Umno chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
After Friday prayers, Abdullah left for Bendang Perangkap in Bunut Susu, Pasir Mas, to launch a plan to boost rice production in the country. — Bernama
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