Is Najib Eyeing Abdullah’s Job?

What appeared to be the story of the year was buried by loquacious front page treatment of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s tabling of the mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (26 June).

Within the earshot of Abdullah after the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting later that evening, Najib dropped the bombshell; he may just go for his boss’ post, that of Umno president at the party’s election at year-end. Should he succeed, the gets to be prime minister as well according to convention.

But all newspapers buried the story with some not even carrying it. Both Utusan Malaysia and the New Straits Times gave it a three or four-paragraph treatment buried in its inside pages. Both also chose to use the copy supplied by Bernama, the official news agency. Berita Harian ignored the story. The Star used its own copy and put it on Page 12. Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang, China Press also used their own copy but gave it only three or four paragraphs and relegated the story to inside pages.

This is the Bernama copy:

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today he has yet to decide whether to contest the Umno presidency in the party elections in December.

Asked by reporters whether he would contest if he were to receive enough nominations from the Umno divisions, Najib, who is also Umno deputy president, said it was not the time yet for him to make the announcement.

"I will make the decision when the time comes, there is still time," he told reporters after attending the Barisan Nasional (BN) Supreme Council meeting, here tonight.

Under the Umno regulations, the candidate for the presidency must obtain nominations from at least 30 per cent of the total Umno divisions in the country…

The Star headlined its story as: “Najib to decide on top post ‘when the time is right’

It said , “ Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak did not dismiss the possibility that he might contest the presidency in the coming party polls. Asked if he would go for it if he secured enough nominations, Najib said: “I will make a decision when the time comes. There is still time.”

The rest of its story was about Abdullah’s comments on party election matters.

This is the first time Najib has gone on record of not dismissing the possibility of challenging Abdullah for the party’s top post. Najib always portrays himself as the loyal deputy even to the extent of tolerating former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad condemning him as a coward for not trying to oust Abdullah.

To quell restlessness over his own position Abdullah had announced recently that Najib and he had come to an agreement to a smooth handing-over “when the right time comes.” Both did not say when this could be.

Najib has also gone on record to say he will not destroy the party that “my father (former premier Abdul Razak) built” by scrambling for the top post.

Has Najib changed his mind now? Has he lined up enough numbers to go for Umno’s presidency? He is not saying anything. But his ellipsis invites much speculation.

He has said: “I will make a decision when the time comes. There is still time.”

By BOB TEOH/ MySinchew
29/06/08