PM Quits in March While UMNO Elections Heat Up

Malaysiakini reported that it had received an sms informing that Prime Minister and UMNO/BN President Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would be quitting in March 2009 and had indicated that he would not be defending the UMNO President's post, paving the way for the Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to contest and to succeed him, if he is able to defeat UMNO veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in the March 2009 UMNO General Assembly. While the UMNO president's position will only face veteran politician, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah or Ku Li, let be Datuk Seri Abdullah or Datuk Seri Najib trying to retain the position.

THE LEADERS WHO GOING TO CONTEST FOR UMNO DEPUTY PRESIDENT POST

With UMNO election just around the corner, many UMNO leaders are vying for the UMNO Deputy President position after the report that PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who is UMNO President bad decided whether he will retain his presidency. Rumours among UMNO leaders are that Datuk Seri Abdullah was under tremendous pressure to 'leave' since the failures in March 8 general elections, recent Permatang Pauh by-elections and on the status of the countries weak economy and administration.

The chances for leaders from UMNO to win the Deputy President Post are extremely open widely now. Since it is tradition that the Deputy President would assume the position of Deputy Prime Minister, if there is a vacancy, the list of candidates would be many, since UMNO leaders are in the race to fulfill their political ambitions.

Few months to go, we are going to witness whether current leaders to defend their post or new leaders to generate various shocks in the elections. UMNO divisional elections will start on October 9 while the general assembly will meet in March 2009 or earlier, December 2008. Hope if new group of leadership formed in UMNO elections next year, they will lead the Party specifically and Malaysia generally to a better democracy rule and a greater future definitely.