MELBOURNE: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has endorsed Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as Prime Minister and Tan Sri Muhyiddin as his deputy.

“With hard work and cooperation, Najib and Muhyiddin would be able to lead a good government,” he said yesterday.

He added that with the global financial turmoil, Malaysia needed strong and decisive leadership.

The former prime minister was here to speak at a Malaysian youth seminar and at an international multi-cultural symposium.

Dr Mahathir said Muhyiddin would be able to bring in a lot of grassroots experience and knowledge.

“There are many contestants for the Umno deputy president’s position, but I think Muhyiddin is the best person to be Najib’s deputy,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said the International Trade and Industry Minister had been “very vocal” of late.

Earlier, Dr Mahathir said Najib should not be surrounded by cronies and family members when he is Prime Minister.

“He should not be surrounded by cronies and family members as this will not be good for the country,” he said after addressing a Malaysian youth seminar at the University of Melbourne.

Dr Mahathir, however, did not identify them.

“There are several former MPs and experts whose advice he should seek to run the country,” he said. - Bernama

Article source:

TheStar News

KUALA LUMPUR:Naib Presiden Umno Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata terpulang kepada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sama ada untuk menyerahkan kuasa pada 9 Okt ini.

Bercakap kepada pemberita di sini, Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri itu berkata beliau yakin Perdana Menteri tahu apa yang sedang berlaku di peringkat bawahan.

Hujung minggu lepas beberapa anggota Majlis Tertinggi Umno dilaporkan berkata tidak ada tekanan dikenakan terhadap Abdullah untuk berundur sebelum tarikh peralihan kuasa kepada Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Abdullah sendiri pernah menyebut bahawa tarikh itu boleh dipercepatkan dari Jun 2010 seperti yang dipersetujui sebelum ini.BERNAMA

Article source:

mSTAR Online

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the MSC implementation council meeting yesterday. With him are (from left) Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili.

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is surprised that Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wants him to step down before 2010.

“I am surprised a member of my cabinet came up with that kind of statement, against what had been agreed by all of us. I am not staying on just for the pleasure of staying on,” he said.

Speaking after chairing the 20th MSC implementation council meeting yesterday, the prime minister said: “The cabinet understood it (the transition plan) and had agreed. The Umno supreme council also agreed on this.

“I am very surprised that he came up with that opinion when he had agreed on that before.”

Under the succession plan, Abdullah will step down as prime minister and Umno president in favour of Datuk Seri Najib Razak in June 2010.

uhyiddin told a press conference on the sidelines of the Forbes Global CEO conference in Singapore on Wednesday that the 2010 timeframe for Abdullah to step down was too long.

Muhyiddin, who is also international trade and industry minister, said he had even asked Najib whether he wanted to wait that long as the latter would have little time to manage and restore the people’s confidence in Umno and Barisan Nasional before the next general election.

Abdullah pledged that he would try his best to fulfil his promises to the people before 2010.

“There are lots of responsibilities and projects which need to be attended to. Reform in the Anti-Corruption Agency is one of them. Police reform had started more than two years ago and matters concerning the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission also need to be looked into.

“I have also promised to eradicate hardcore poverty. There is much to be done and to expand our capacity to serve the people.

“I have made it my responsibility to undertake all these and to help Najib achieve the objectives of the programmes which I have started,” said Abdullah.

Article source:

The New Straits Times