The least Johor Umno wants — timetable for orderly succession

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — The tone has mellowed down over the past few days but Johor Umno is still going to deliver a message to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he visits the state tomorrow.
Umno division heads believe that the attacks against the PM will not cease until he states publicly a timetable of handing over the mantle of leadership to a successor. Several division heads say that there is no question of staging a coup or starting a revolt against Abdullah’s leadership.
“But there needs to be a way out for Pak Lah and the party of this impasse. Rightly or wrongly, party members are blaming him for the losses in the elections, and some of them want him to go. And yet we need to have an orderly transfer of power. So a timetable of succession is the best option.
“As people who are respectful and loyal to our president, we think it is necessary to give him all the options," said a division leader.
The Insider reported that during a Johor Umno meeting on Saturday, the overwhelming view was that it would be difficult for Abdullah to fight off the perception that he was a weak leader and that his decisions were influenced by family members.
Though the division heads acknowledged that he was a good man and respected by Malaysians, they felt that anyone wanting to rejuvenate and reform Umno must have the confidence of party members.
Those who attended the meeting included Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Ghani Othman, Datuk Shahrir Samad, Datuk Khaled Nordin, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Dr Puad Zarkashi and Datuk Halimah Sadique. Only Datuk Shahrir stood up strongly for the PM, saying that he should be allowed to put in place reforms for the party and country.
In an interview with Bernama, Datuk Shahrir denied that Johor Umno would convey any message to Abdullah, saying that no resolutions or decisions had been taken at Saturday’s meeting.
Asked if any of the Umno divisions had called for Abdullah to step down, he said: “I felt it was not openly stated."
Checks by the Insider show that a decision was made at the meeting on Saturday for Ghani to convey the views of the division heads. The majority view is that if Abdullah makes public a timetable of succession for Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, it will allow him a chance to exit with dignity.
Otherwise, it is possible that when the branches start meeting in July, they could start passing resolutions for him to step down.
MalaysianInsider

tunku : only shahrir samad stood up strongly for the pm, after all he made him a minister.of course he will stood up for him. i guess this will be the best,pak lah should make public when he's stepping down but don't tell us after the next election.