It would be a coup: Shahrir

Meanwhile, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affair Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad said he failed to understand why Muhyiddin and Rais was forcing the prime minister's hand.
"First of all, I don't see why there is a crisis in Umno when only a small number of Malays have abandoned the party,” he said after Abdullah’s meeting with BN elected representatives.
According to independent statistics, there was a five percent swing against the government among Malay voters in last month’s general elections.
"If at all there was any erosion of votes for BN, it came from the component parties (MCA, MIC and Gerakan). The candidates from Umno did very well as the Malay support was quite high," said Shahrir, who is Johor Bahru MP and Abdullah's close ally.
"The problem was with the non-Malay parties, yet somehow Umno leaders successfully created a leadership crisis when there is no correlation with the results," he added.
On certain quarters trying to force Abdullah to quit, Shahrir revealed that the premier had already said he was going and that he had given a date to (Umno vice-president) Muhyiddin at the Johor meeting last Friday.
"Abdullah has set a date. But obviously it’s going to happen after December. Unfortunately, there seems to be people who want it to be faster. I don't understand why, unless they have vested interest," said the outspoken politician.
However, Shahrir was vague on the actual date of transition. He said it could be either 2009 or 2010.
"To be fair, he has already said he's going, so what's the rush?" lamented Shahrir. "Instead of allowing him to run the government, he is being distracted with talks of transition."
"This would not be a transition but a 'Get out!'. It will be a coup d’etat."

tunku : this newly appointed minister is saying that rais and muhyiddin trying to do a coup d'tat.its not coup d'tat shahrir,they are asking him to resign.there's big difference there or you don't actually understand what is the meaning of coup.
i wonder who did the independent statistic saying that only five percent swing against the government among Malay voters in last month’s general elections.they must be hired by the 4th floor boys, that's why pak lah still in denial syndrome.well if people like shahrir around him he will always be in denial syndrome.
yes pak lah said he is leaving but WHEN? 2009,2010,2015,2020? that is what everybody wants to know,when? one thing for sure we can't have him around for too long,maximum before the umno election.