ABDULLAH : WHAT ABOUT PM'S POST?

Although the UMNO presidency comes with the Prime Minister's post, Abdullah was very definitive not to mention any thing about his position as Prime Minister when he hands over the UMNO top post to Najib.

Maybe it will be automatic that the PM post will go to Najib as well but UMNO first need to get the BN component members' agreement as a mark of respect to them. Or will there be a separation of power in that UMNO President need not necessarily becomes PM?

Or is it a strategy not to make Abdullah a lame duck PM if he announces the exact date of his departure? Anyhow, many in UMNO are still not happy that Abdullah did not exit soonest. And one most important thing is that anything can happen or change in the next two years! Keep your fingers crossed!!

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today announced that he would hand over the post of Umno president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak by middle of 2010.

He said the process of transferring the power had begun today and that with the decision, he would not be leading the BN in the coming general election expected to be held sometime in 2012 or 2013.

"I took the opportunity to inform the supreme council at the meeting just now that I have reached an agreement with Datuk Seri Najib that I will not be leading the BN in the 13th general election.

"And this will also mean that we have to set in motion the process of transferring the power. I informed the supreme council that the process would begin with the announcement I'm making today. "...that I plan to hand over the (Umno) president's post to Datuk Seri Najib by middle of 2010," he told a news conference after a close-door special briefing with Umno divisional leaders as well as leaders of the party's three wings -- Wanita, Youth and Puteri -- at the Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre here today.