Najib: Abdullah didn’t say when he will step down - The Star

SUBANG JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has not expressed his intention to hand over power in 2010, said his successor-designate Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Abdullah had not given any indication of timing as yet, adding that the announcement will be made “when the time comes”.

Abdullah, who is the Umno president, had reportedly told Johor Umno last week that he planned to leave office in 2010 and would discuss the transition plan with his successor Najib.

On calls on the ground for a timetable for the transition, Najib said that was not a call for him to make.

“I cannot demand. It has to come from the (Umno) president,” he said.

“He has the wisdom to decide what is best for the party. I believe that,” he told reporters yesterday, after chairing an Umno management committee meeting with leaders from Selangor Umno to gather feedback on the party’s performance in the recent general election.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/17/nation/20979492&sec=nation]