Radzi Sheikh Ahmad has quit his position as Umno secretary-general with immediate effect.

radzi sheikh ahmad His resignation comes less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dropped him from his new cabinet line-up.

In the previous cabinet, Radzi was the home affairs minister.

In announcing his resignation, the Umno politician - who is close to Abdullah - said he could no longer "work effectively".

Radzi has also tendered his resignation as Barisan Nasional secretary-general.

"I have offered my resignation as secretary-general of Umno and of BN and the prime minister has accepted my resignation," said Radzi.

"I feel that I cannot work effectively any more in the present circumstances," he said, but sidestepped queries over whether he had decided to resign rather than face dismissal.

No cracks in Umno

He thanked Abdullah for giving him the opportunity to serve Umno and BN as secretary-general for four years.

"I hope Umno will continue to scale new heights under Abdullah's

leadership. I will extend my assistance in whatever way possible," he said.

He dispelled the notion that he was resigning as he was disappointed after being dropped from the cabinet.

"In politics, there will always be people to take over. Nobody remains

forever," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Radzi, 68, was embroiled in a bitter tussle in Umno Perlis with the faction led by former menteri besar Shahidan Kassim.

He also denied that his resignation was related to this. "I don't think so. I am happy with the leadership in Perlis.

Radzi, who described his four years as secretary-general as an 'exciting' period, said Abdullah will decide on his successor.

He also called on Umno members to accept his decision and not to indulge in speculations which can affect the party.

"Please do not think there is a crack in Umno," he said.

Prior to becoming home affairs minister, the MP for Kangar was appointed by Abdullah as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in 2004.

Other positions he held were deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department (1983-1984) and deputy minister for the primary industries ministry (1984-1986).

Duo turn down appointments

In another development, Tengku Azlan Abu Bakar and Anifah Aman - both from Umno - had declined to accept their deputy minister positions.

According to the New Straits Times , the pair 'threw a tantrum' claiming they are 'senior enough' to be made full ministers.

However, Abdullah refused to give in, saying he had picked the best people for the cabinet.

In the previous administration, Anifah was the plantation industries and commodities deputy minister while Tengku Azlan was deputy transport minister.