M'SIAN DPM TO ISSUE STATEMENT ON ABDULLAH'S DECISION THURSDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun
Razak will hold a news conference tomorrow in Terengganu to answer queries on the transition of power between Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and him.

Najib's press secretary Tengku Sarifuddin Tengku Ahmad told Bernama that
the deputy prime minister will meet the press during the visit to the east coast
state.

He said Najib would launch the countdown for the FEI-World Endurance
Championship 2008 at the Gong Badak sports complex in the morning and meet state
Umno liaison leaders at the Primula Beach Resort Hotel in the afternoon.


Earlier Wednesday, Abdullah, after meeting National Front (Barisan Nasional
- BN) component party leaders, announced that he would not defend the Umno
president's post at the party general assembly in March next year to pave the
way for a smooth transition of power.

Abdullah also said that Najib would take over the post of prime
minister after the Umno general assembly.

Umno or United Malays National Organisation is Malaysia's largest political
party and a founding member of the ruling BN coalition.

Under the Barisan Nasional system, the Umno president automatically becomes
the prime minister and the head of the Barisan Nasional, while the deputy
president becomes the deputy prime minister.

Met by reporters after the BN meeting at Menara Datuk Onn today, Najib
merely said: "tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow", indicating that he would react to
the prime minister's announcement Thursday.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Umno vice-president Muhyiddin
Yassin said that he would announce his bid for party post on Friday.

While Najib is expected to take over the top post in Umno, Muhyiddin is
widely tipped to contest the Umno deputy presidency.

"On Friday, I will make the official announcement," was Muhyiddin's brief
reply to newsmen after attending the BN supreme council meeting.

-- BERNAMA