Abdullah Ahmad Badawi held an impromptu 35-minute meeting today with the majority of Umno MPs in Parliament to discuss current issues affecting the party.
The Umno president did not speak to reporters after the meeting but Pontian member of Parliament Ahmad Mazlan said that Abdullah had discussed about Dr Mahathir Mohamad's sudden resignation from the party for the first five minutes only.
Abdullah, who is also prime minister, dedicated the rest of the meeting to other matters involving the party and the revival of the Umno Parliamentarians Group.
Ahmad, also the Barisan Backbenchers Club information chief, said that there were no calls made by the parliamentarians for Abdullah to step down. He also said that the MPs had expressed their support for Abdullah.
Ahmad, also the Barisan Backbenchers Club information chief, said that there were no calls made by the parliamentarians for Abdullah to step down. He also said that the MPs had expressed their support for Abdullah.
On the Umno Parliamentarians Group, Ahmad said it would be headed by Anifah Aman, who is the Kimanis MP. He will also be tasked with representing the Umno MPs in Parliament.
Mukhriz absent
One notable absentee from the meeting was Jerlun MP and Mahathir's son Mukhriz. He is expected to call for a press conference later this evening to explain his stand on his fathers’ resignation.
Other notable absentees were Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak (who is at the World Economic Forum in Egypt) and International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (who is leading a trade and investment mission in the United States).
Mahathir yesterday announced that he was quitting the party in protest against Abdullah's weak leadership.
The former Umno president had urged other party members and leaders to follow him and return only when Abdullah has stepped down.
Abdullah yesterday rejected that call, adding that he had the support of the members and would continue to lead the party as he still had a lot of work to do.
At a press conference after the meeting, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Umno parliamentarian Mohd Nazri Abudl Aziz said that all Umno MPs wanted to move on with their tasks.
"No one is bigger than the party and we (Umno MPs) just want to move on. We have also given our support to Abdullah to continue as party chief," he said.
He added that crises such as Mahathir's resignation was nothing new to Umno and it will only
make the party stronger "No one will leave Umno," he said.
The premier is expected to hold another meeting tomorrow with BN MPs and ministers to discuss and debate the impact of Mahathir's resignation.
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