Johor Umno: Speed up transition of power - The Star

JOHOR BARU: The plan for transition of power from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to his deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak should be expedited in an orderly manner, Johor Umno information chief Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said.

Dr Mohd Puad, who is the Batu Pahat Umno Division chief, said Umno had executed the transition of power from one leader to another, as in the cases of the transition from the late Tunku Abdul Rahman to the late Tun Abdul Razak and from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Abdullah.

“At its meeting with Abdullah on Friday, Johor Umno asked the Prime Minister to prepare the plan for transition of power. It is something that has to be carried out,” he said, adding that a number of division chiefs wanted the plan to be carried out quickly.

All 26 Umno division chiefs in Johor except Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who is the Sembrong division chief, attended the closed-door meeting with the Prime Minister. Hishammuddin is in Paris attending the Unesco meeting.

Gelang Patah Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Sapian said the orderly transition of power from Abdullah to Najib as proposed by the Johor Umno Liaison Committee could enable Umno and the Government to regain the support of the Malays.

He said the execution of the transition of power was the basis of expression of full support by the Johor Umno Liaison Committee for the leadership of Abdullah last Friday.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/14/nation/20943856&sec=nation]