PM ASKS MINISTER TO TAKE LEAVE AND RETHINK DECISION TO QUIT

KUALA TERENGGANU (Malaysia), Sept 16 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Monday advised Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Zaid Ibrahim to take a leave and rethink his decision to quit the post.

Abdullah said Zaid met him at Seri Perdana, the prime minister's official
residence in Putrajaya, this afternoon and conveyed his intention to quit the
post.

"He mentioned the matter to me but I said, think carefully.

"If he is tired, he can take a leave... a short one will do," Abdullah told
reporters after breaking fast and performing the Maghrib prayers with the people
and state leaders at the Abidin Mosque here.

Zaid was reported to have tendered his resignation as Minister in the Prime
Minister's Department and that the resignation letter was handed over to the
prime minister in Putrajaya at 2pm Monday.

Abdullah confirmed that Zaid had sent the resignation letter to his office
Monday.

However, the prime minister said he had yet to see the letter and that he
did not know the reasons for Zaid's action.

"The letter is not with me. Zaid met me at home; the letter was sent to the
office," he said.

Asked on what he thought of Zaid's decision, Abdullah said Zaid was free to
do so and that his action would not weaken the cabinet.

On Sunday, Zaid, the de-facto law minister, said he was prepared to be
sacked or ordered to quit for speaking out against the government's use of the
Internal Security Act (ISA).

He said the act should be used specifically to stem the activities of
terrorists, communist subversives and those attempting to topple the government
by force.