Prime Minister and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi continued to be tightlipped over the exact date of him stepping down in order to hand over the reins to his deputy Najib Abdul Razak.

Pressed on the matter several times at a press conference held after an one-hour Umno emergency supreme council meeting, he said he would only do so after the divisional meetings which will kick off on Oct 9.

Below is the transcript of his question-and-answer session with the media during the nine-minute press conference:

Will the Umno election be postponed to March?

The election is based on whatever decision that is reached during the divisional meetings [...] It's like last time, there is no change, it's just a bit of delay.

What is the reason for that?

umno supreme council special meeting 260809 pak lah Err... give what... what's the word just now... way... (turns to his deputy Najib Abdul Razak, seated next to him).. It's to facilitate an early transition.

Does that mean you won't be defending your post in March?

I have not announced any decision as this particular point is concerned. I intend to do it before the division meetings begin (on Oct 9).

Do you think the members will accept the decision to further put off the party election?

The supreme council members have agreed to it and it is not something that will cause difficulty. If we postpone the divisional elections involving other procedures, that will be troublesome.

Are you going on leave soon?

I am going on leave? Am I going on leave? How did you know? I am not going on leave, I have a lot of work to do.

Could you just clarify what you mean by ‘to facilitate an early transition'?

Whatever that I'll need to do later will be decided between me and Najib.

Are you going to stick to the 2010 deadline?

If (the transition) is brought forward, then 2010 is off.

Are you prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice if it's better for the party for you to leave early?

pak lah umno supreme council special meeting 260809 04 As far as I am concerned, I love my party. Even in the most difficult circumstances, I never left.

I did not join Umno 46 (Semangat 46), I never joined any other party, I've never been on the platform of an opposition party to speak against Umno. There was no record of me going against the party at any time at all.

Is there any plan to impose a limit for the presidency term in future?

Like MCA? We did not make any decision like that yet and have no such policy.

On the early transition, are you under tremendous pressure to quit?

No, nothing to do with that. Everything has got to do with my work, when I am done with my work, then I am done.

Do you feel that your colleagues in the Umno supreme council are asking you to leave early?

No, no, nothing (like that) happened. Maybe there are two, three who felt such way but most of them have no reason to pressure (me) because they know I have a cordial relation(ship) with Najib.

We have good consensus on everything and there should be no question about it.

Is it right to say that you will not contest the party post in March?

It will be my decision, right or not, it will be mine. You can go on guessing, the decision will be mine.

Watch 7-min video of PM's press conference