ABDULLAH WILL NOT TAKE LEAVE BEFORE STEPPING DOWN

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he would not be taking leave before stepping down in March because he has work to do.

"Why take leave? Leave is a matter of individual decision... to take
leave or not to take leave," he told reporters after launching the Institute for
Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) here Thursday.

On Wednesday, Abdullah announced that he would not defend his post as Umno
president and would step down as prime minister in March 2009.

He also said that there were several initiatives that he intended to see
through before he left office.

In February 2002, Abdullah also carried out the prime minister's duties
when the then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad went abroad for a month's
holiday and working visit before stepping down.

Asked how he wanted people to remember him after his retirement, Abdullah
said he was not working just to make people remember him.

"I don't think I need to talk about people remembering me. If they want to
remember me, they will remember me. If they don't want to, they won't.

"I know what to do. And what I want to do is work," he said.

When asked whether he would retain the Kepala Batas Umno division chief
post, Abdullah said: "Well...most likely."

Meanwhile, he said the ideal candidate for the Umno deputy president post
would be someone who could help the president.