NAJIB TO MAKE ACCEPTANCE SPEECH AS UMNO PRESIDENT SATURDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- Najib Razak will deliver an acceptance
speech as the new United Malays National Organisation (Umno) president on
Saturday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

"There is a slight change in this Umno General Assembly... Najib (Umno
deputy president) will be making an acceptance speech for the post of
party president.

"This will be done after the winding-up of debate (on the president's
address) on Saturday," Abdullah, who is Umno president, told reporters after
chairing his last Supreme Council meeting here Wednesday night. Unmo is the
dominant party in Malaysia's ruling National Front.

On the meeting, Abdullah said he thanked members of the Supreme Council for
their cooperation in helping him discharge his duties during his tenure as party
president.

"As this is my last Umno Supreme Council meeting, I thank all members of the
Supreme Council who have given their full cooperation to me, especially my
deputy Najib.

"Likewise, Najib had also expressed gratitude to me on behalf of all the
Supreme Council members for my leadership all this while," said Abdullah who
appeared cheerful.

Asked whether he had given a message to the Supreme Council, he said, "I did
not. I just want to say thank you."

However, Abdullah said he would deliver his message in his policy speech at
the opening of the party general assembly Thursday.
-- BERNAMA