Najib is the one but no date set: PM

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today announced that no date has been fixed for the handover of the premiership to his deputy Najib Abdul Razak.

“The exact date has yet to be determined. When the time comes, the transition will take place just as the two of us understands it,” the prime minister told reporters during his one-day working visit to Terengganu today.

Abdullah however refused to reveal further details about the transition plan but affirmed that Najib would definitely take over his post.

“As I’ve said yesterday, Najib and I understand that the leadership change will take place in an orderly manner, in a way that won’t create any problems.

“Secondly, I will definitely hand over the prime minister’s post to Najib because he will be the one I shall choose to succeed me,” he added.

When is the right time?

Abdullah has been under pressure to step down as Umno president and, by default, as prime minister following Barisan Nasional’s poor performance during the March 8 general election.

Yesterday, he had reiterated that a succession plan was in place but it would only happen “at the right time”.

Previously, Abdullah had shot down calls from Umno members to step down, saying that any transition plan would be discussed after the party polls in December.

Currently, there is no likely challenger to Abdullah’s leadership other than former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.