UMNO PRESIDENCY: M'SIAN PM EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE DECISION WEDNESDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is expected to announce his decision Wednesday whether he will defend the Umno presidency at the party elections in March next year.

Umno is Malaysia's largest political party and a founding member of the
ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front or BN) coalition.

Abdullah, when met by reporters after launching the BioMalaysia
2008 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here Tuesday, said that he would not
be making any announcement Tuesday.

"I have no announcement today," he told scores of reporters who
pursued him for his comments as he was leaving the venue where the three-day
biotechnology
conference and exhibition is held.

Yesterday, Abdullah said that he would announce either today or tomorrow
whether he would defend the Umno president's post.

Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku
Mansor confirmed that there would be a BN supreme council meeting at the
Putra World Trade Centre Wednesday.