UMNO GENERAL ASSEMBLY POSTPONED TO MARCH NEXT YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- The Umno general assembly, scheduled for December, has been postponed to March next year to facilitate an early transition of power.

The United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO, (Malay: Pertubuhan
Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu), is a right-wing party and Malaysia's largest
political party; a founding member of the Barisan Nasional coalition, which has
ruled the country uninterruptedly since its independence.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made the announcement Friday
after chairing a special meeting of the Umno supreme council.

Abdullah also said that he would announce his decision whether or not to
defend his post as Umno president before the divisions start holding their
delegates meetings on Oct 9.

"I have not announced any decision as far as this particular point is
concerned. I intend to do it before the divisional meetings," he told a news
conference after the meeting at Menara Datuk Onn, Putra World Trade Centre here.

Asked whether the original plan for him to transfer power to his deputy,
Najib Tun Razak in June 2010 was retained, he said: "if it is brought
forward, then there is no original 2010. It does not arise."

Asked what he meant by facilitating an early power transition process,
he
said: "It is for handing over whatever is necessary...whatever regulations that
I have to implement, anything...this will be decided by me and Najib."

Asked whether he would defend his president's post, he said: "Contest or
not, the decision will be mine."

He said that other than postponing the party elections at the general
assembly, originally fixed for Dec 16, there was no change to the divisional
meetings, scheduled to start on Oct 9.

"Everything will run as usual. That's clear, nothing confusing and it's for
the best. Any change can cause a lot of difficulties and will not bring any
additional benefit.

"If (the meetings are) postponed it will involve other procedures...that
will make it difficult. All the divisions will meet as usual. Some divisions
have already fixed the dates," he said.

Asked whether he was pressured to give up his post earlier than planned at
today's meeting, he said the matter did not arise.

There was nothing today, nothing about that matter. Maybe two or three
persons felt that way but the majority had not reason to pressure me because
they know that my relationship with Najib is good. There is no problem over
this matter.

Abdullah also denied that he would be taking leave soon.

"Am I going for leave? How do you know? No. I'm not going for leave.
I've got a lot of work to do," he said.

Asked whether he would make a sacrifice for the sake of the party and
relinguish his post, he said that throughout the history of his struggle, he had
never taken any action that went against the party because he loved Umno.

"As far as I'm concerned, I love my party even at the most difficult time.
I never left (Umno). I did not join Umno 46, I did not join any other party.
I've never been on the platform of any opposition parties to seek (personal)
gains against Umno. There's no record at all of me opposing the party at any
time," he added.

Abdullah was also asked whether Umno proposed to limit the party
president's tenure to three terms, like the MCA.

He said Umno had no such plan.

On his meeting with MIC president S.Samy Vellu who had asked that
the five Hindraf leaders currently held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) be
released, he said the matter was under the purview of the Home Ministry and he
had handed Samy Vallu's letter on the matter to the minister concerned.