PM dismisses rumours of no-confidence vote against him - NST

By : Hamidah Atan, Deborah Loh and Farrah Naz Karim

PUTRAJAYA, Tues:

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reiterated today he had been given the mandate to form the government although the BN won with a simple majority in the March 8 polls. At a Press conference to unveil the new Cabinet line-up, Abdullah was asked on rumours of a vote of no-confidence to be passed against him in the coming Umno general assembly but the Umno president said he will not shirk from his responsibility as he had the support of all Umno and BN leadership.

"As far as I am concerned, I am still here. I have been given the mandate to form the government and we are only short of eight seats. I will not shirk my responsibility and I was not under pressure," he said.

The Press conference at the Implementation and Co-ordination Unit of the Prime Minister's Department was also attended by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan.

Abdullah said Umno have no plans to hold an extraordinary general meeting to discuss its election performance, referring to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's letter to Umno division leaders, requesting them to attend a May 11 meeting to discuss the partuy's poor performance.

Abdullah said the matter would be dealt with through the normal procedures.

On his relationship with his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak, he said he had the best of relationship with the latter.

Asked why Najib was not present at the Press conference, he replied, "Najib has yet to be the deputy prime minister. He will be (sworn in as) the DPM tomorrow."

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Frontpage/20080318193358/Article/index_html]