Abdullah: 'I Don't Want To Leave Party In State Of Turmoil' - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says he wants the power transition to his successor to be smooth as this is important for the country.

"I don't want to leave the party in a state of turmoil but in a good, stable condition.

"I can say to (Deputy Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib (Tun Razak), 'good luck, that's your problem not mine.' But that should not be the way. We don't want it to be so sudden...where's Pak Lah (Abdullah)? He has quit. That's not the way," Abdullah said.

The prime minister was speaking at a press conference after meeting with senators, members of parliament and state assemblymen from the Barisan Nasional at the Putra World Trade Centre here Monday.

"It was the same before, when (Tun) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) wanted to hand over power to me. That's how we do things," he said in response to calls from some Umno members for him to transfer the reins of power to his successor.

He said he received various views on the power transition, with some wanting it to be as soon as possible while others gave him more time.

"Never mind. I just listen. I have two ears. I am not deaf. In a democracy, everyone wants to talk. So what can we do? If we don't allow them to speak out, they say we are scared... there's no freedom, so let them talk," added the Umno president.

Asked further on the power transition, Abdullah said it was only the view of some quarters and not all the grassroots.

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