Special Umno meeting Friday

Source TheStar

KUALA LUMPUR: A special Umno supreme council meeting is scheduled to be held at the Putra World Trade Centre here on Friday morning.

Sources told The Star that invitations have been sent to all supreme council members.

Umno executive secretary Brig Jen (Rtd) Datuk Husainy Hasyim confirmed that the meeting will start at 10am.

Sources said the meeting was called to further discuss the power transition plan between Prime Minister and party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib told The Star that he had received a call Thursday morning to attend the meeting.

He, however, added he was not told why the meeting was being held.

Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz also confirmed the meeting.

On Wednesday, Najib cancelled a working visit to the United States from Sept 25 to Oct 1, saying that among the reasons for the cancellation was the current global economical situation which would demand his full attention at home to ensure that the national economy was on a solid footing.

Najib was scheduled to deliver his maiden speech at the UN General Assembly on Saturday.

A statement from the Deputy Prime Minister’s office said the cancellation of the trip was approved by the Prime Minister.

“Najib only took over as Finance Minister on Sept 17 and will need more time to be briefed on economic developments in the country by various departments and agencies under the Finance Ministry,” it said.

On Sept 19, Najib said he was going ahead with his trip to America, although he had postponed an official trip to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from Sept 19-21.