Najib drops UN trip for Umno

malaysiainsider | ...Stand down. That is the message being sent by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to their supporters in Umno who have become restless over the public debate on the transition plan.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the country’s top two leaders met last night after breaking fast and discussed a range of issues, including the recent furore over Abdullah’s plan to hand over power to Najib in 2010.

During last Thursday’s Umno supreme council meeting, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Rafidah Aziz and Datuk Shafie Apdal urged Abdullah to step down as president soon, and consider not defending his post in the party polls in December.

This attack upset Abdullah’s supporters and they urged the PM not to succumb to pressure from certain parties, arguing that he would be able to obtain the minimum 58 nominations from Umno divisions needed to defend his position. The Abdullah camp made it clear that they were prepared to wage a no-holds barred campaign to ensure that he obtained the support from the ground.

In plain language, this meant that anyone who came between the PM and his desire to contest the party presidency would be treated as an enemy.

This talk and the counter from Najib’s camp have created considerable unease on the ground. But last night, both leaders - who enjoy far closer ties than their advisors and supporters - agreed that come what may, they would not have a contest against each other.... selanjutnya.