Controversy-courting Ibrahim Ali has done it again. The Umno leader's Pasir Mas division in Kelantan is planning to hold an extraordinary general meeting to urge Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad not to resign next year.

This led several party leaders, including Kelantan Umno Youth chief Rujhan Salleh, to warn him not to politicise the resignation issue.

Mahathir announced his retirement plans in June this year. The 76-year-old statesman said he would step down as prime minister and Umno president next October, and named Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as his successor.

Ibrahim was told that if his division proceeds with the meet, it will be interpreted as questioning Abdullah's ability.

Staunch supporter

The Kelantan leader is a staunch Mahathir supporter. He had even penned a book titled Babi (Pig) to counter Anjing (Dog) a book by national laureate Shanon Ahmad that criticised the premier's leadership.

When contacted recently, Ibrahim refused to comment on the meet, claiming that he was in the hospital. Attempts to reach him today were futile.

Ibrahim joined Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in Parti Semangat 46 after their attempt to topple Mahathir in 1987 failed. He rejoined Umno a few years later and was rewarded with a deputy ministership. However, he was in the political wilderness again after he was defeated in the 1999 general election.

Umno vice-president Muhammad Muhd Taib told malaysiakini this afternoon that party members are entitled to express their opinions on any issue, including the premier's resignation.

"As party members they are free to do so as long as it is done within the party constitution hence we cannot stop Datuk Ibrahim Ali from doing so as well.

"Generally, however, a majority of Umno members have shown their respect for Dr Mahathir's decision to resign from the party and the government next year," he said.