Pak Lah is Over?

PM to hand over reins to Najib in mid-2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs:

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Thursday announced that he would hand over the post of Umno president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak by middle of 2010.

He said the process of transferring the power had begun Thursday and that with the decision, he would not be leading the BN in the coming general election expected to be held sometime in 2012 or 2013.

"I took the opportunity to inform the supreme council at the meeting just now that I have reached an agreement with Datuk Seri Najib that I will not be leading the BN in the 13th general election.

"And this will also mean that we have to set in motion the process of transferring the power. I informed the supreme council that the process would begin with the announcement I'm making today.

"...that I plan to hand over the (Umno) president's post to Datuk Seri Najib by middle of 2010," he told a news conference after a close-door special briefing with Umno divisional leaders as well as leaders of the party's three wings -- Wanita, Youth and Puteri -- at the Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre here Thursday.

news source: nst.com.my