Dr Mahathir creating disunity, says PM (Badawi)

KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi does not rule out that an attempt is being made to push him out of office earlier than March and slammed his key critics Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“Maybe,” was the Prime Minister’s reply at an unscheduled press conference here last night when he was asked whether statements by Dr Mahathir and Umno vice-president Muhyiddin reflected a move to push him out of office earlier than the date agreed upon by the Umno supreme council.

In slamming Dr Mahathir for creating hatred and disunity among party members, Abdullah said the former prime minister had no business in Umno as he had quit the party and should stop making such statements.

“He is just creating disunity and hatred and acting like a party director,” he said in explaining that when he decided not to contest the Umno presidency, it was to avoid disunity in the party.

On Dr Mahathir’s statement that Umno members should reject all of Abdullah’s supporters, the Prime Minister said there was nothing wrong for those who had worked with him to contest posts and receive support from the members.

On Muhyiddin’s alleged call to have an earlier transition of power in December instead of March, Abdullah said the transition was agreed upon and endorsed by the Umno supreme council where even Muhyiddin did not object to the plan.

He said the supreme council understood the reason why March was picked as Abdullah wanted to undertake the judicial and Anti Corruption Agency reforms in Parliament before leaving.

He also slammed Muhyiddin for claiming that there was a groundswell against Umno and Barisan Nasional which forced a change to the June 2010 transition plan.

Earlier in Kuala Lumpur, Bernama reported that Muhyiddin denied calling for an earlier transition of power between Abdullah and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He pointed out that what he had said was that the campaign period for the party elections was perceived to be too long.

“I did say that the duration was too long but I did not say that the date should be amended because I respect the decision of the (Umno) supreme council on the duration for the power transition. We (in the supreme council) have reached a consensus and the president has decided, and I respect that. The power transition still remains in March,” he told reporters at his Hari Raya open house yesterday.

“This is my statement on the campaign and it has nothing to do with the power transition. These are two different subjects. The campaign period is different, the power transition has been fixed. I don’t want to be branded as someone who is questioning (the power transition).”

Star Online
19/10/08