Pak Lah: No Dr M, he deserves to win

Outgoing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today defended his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin's victory in the Umno Youth elections.

Responding to his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad's stinging criticisms on the issue, he said Khairy deserved to win.

"Mahathir has his own views but the fact is that the election was done properly," he told reporters at the Umno annual general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

"(It was conducted) in accordance to the institution of the party and the procedures of the party election. What’s there to be raising all sorts of questions, creating and making people doubt the election and the party?" he added, looking a little frustrated.

Furthermore, Abdullah said his son-in-law had 'worked very hard' for it.

"That's the truth, I know. Sometimes he would ask Nori (Khairy's wife) 'where is our son?' because he was always on the move. As I said, he was working very hard, even his wife said so.

"He came back late at night because of campaign and I think he deserves it after working so hard for it," he added.

In a posting on his blog today, Mahathir had slammed the Umno Youth movement for electing a politician known to be 'corrupt' as their head.

On Wednesday, Khairy defeated Mahathir's son Mukhriz and former Selangor menteri besar Mohd Khir Toyo for the coveted post.

Najib-Muhyiddin 'good combination'

Meanwhile, Abdullah also gave the thumbs up to the new Umno top leadership, especially with Muhyiddin Yassin as deputy president.

"The (incoming premier) Najib (Abdul Razak) and Muhyiddin combination is good... they can work together and are compatible... no conflicting opinions," he said.

Expressing confidence in the newly elected leadership, the prime minister hoped that the leaders would be able to fulfil what they had set out to do.

"I hope that they would be able to fulfil all the promises that had been made to ensure Umno remains relevant, to ensure that the rakyat have confidence in the party and to ensure that Umno becomes the party of choice," he said.

Responding to a question on whether he would regret not being able to fulfill his own reform agenda, Abdullah smiled and conceded that "he would not feel good about it".

"I do not want to regret but when I'm not there anymore to push for more reforms, I would not feel good about it," he said.

However, Abdullah remained tightlipped as to when the power transition between him and Najib would take place despite speculations that it would happen on April 3.

"No need to ask this question. You have been asking this question so many times before," he said.