FOREIGN OBSERVERS PRAISE UMNO FOR PEACEFUL POWER TRANSITION

By Azril Annuar


KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- Foreign delegations and observers found
common ground Thursday in complimenting the United Malays National Organization
(Umno) for the peaceful power transition between outgoing Umno president
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak.

Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Prof Dr Da'i Bachtiar said the
voluntary transfer of power was very unique and "I believe this is a good
thing."

"Abdullah, as the party's top leader sets a very good example to younger
members of the party, especially on how he climbed the political ladder without
asking or expecting anything other than to fulfil his desire to serve," Dr Da'i
told to reporters on the sidelines of the Umno General Assembly here Thursday.

UMNO is a right-wing party and Malaysia's largest political party; a
founding member of the National Front (Barisan Nasional -BN) coalition, which
has been Malaysia's ruling political party since independence.

Kazakhstan's Member of Parliament and International Affairs, Defence and
Security Committee Chairman Nurbakh Rustemov also found to his delight that the
nation's transition of premiership was unlike any other he has experienced
before.

"The transition of power in Malaysia is not a transition from one party to
another but within party bounds and yet it is still very democratic.

"It is very interesting to see how so many members live by the party motto
of 'Bersatu, Bersetia, Berkhidmat' (Unity, Loyalty, Service) and even after
retiring they remain loyal members," said Rustemov, also a member of
Kazakhstan's ruling party Nur-Otan.

Rustemov also voiced his hope for greater bilateral trade and economic
relations between Malaysia and Kazakhstan under future Prime Minister Najib
Razak's leadership.

"We expect greater enhancement in our relations. We also would like to have
greater inter-party relations between Kazakhstan's political parties and Umno
and we extend our warmest invitation to Umno to send a delegation to the
Nur-Otan's 12th Congress and our 10th anniversary on May 15," he told Bernama.

Meanwhile, Palestinian President's political adviser Nimer Hammad found
the experience at the Umno General Assembly to be a great democratic experience.


He believed that Umno's unity and peaceful leadership transition would help
the nation's future development.

Cuban Embassy's first secretary Batista Florentino told Bernama that the
smooth transition of power could only mean well for the nation as a whole.

On Umno's desire for change, Florentino said he believed Umno had the human
capacity and structure to do so.

"The transformation, which fuses past strengths with new elements necessary
for survival, lies with party members themselves," he said, adding that in any
case, changes were necessary in order to maintain validity.

-- BERNAMA