Umno political bureau's meeting to discuss if the party should contest in the Penanti by-election on May 31 has been postponed from tomorrow to Monday.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at 5pm tomorrow but it will now take place at 1pm on Monday, said a statement posted in Umno's official website.

najib razak acccim 170409 speech No reason was given for the postponement but it could be due to party president and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's official visit to Brunei today and tomorrow.

He is also expected to stopover in Kuching on his way back to see Sarawak Chief Minister Mahmud Taib whose wife Laila Taib died today.

The venue for the political bureau meeting was not stated but it is believed that it will be held at the Prime Minister's Department in Putrajaya.

The meeting will be chaired by Najib and attended by his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin and all three vice-presidents.

Last week, the party's supreme council decided to let the political bureau decide on whether to contest in the by-election.

The seat became vacant following the resignation of PKR's Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin on April 16 to pursue his studies and spend more time with his family.

BN mulling a sit-out

anwar ibrahim dr mansor othman pkr candidate for penanti state seat by election 280409 03 Late last night, PKR named former academician and PKR state deputy leader 58-year-old Mansor Othman ( right ) as its candidate. Nomination is on May 23.

Najib had previously said that Barisan Nasional might decide to sit out of the by-election as it was a waste of money and time, adding that the government wanted to concentrate on battling the ongoing financial crisis.

He also lashed out at the opposition for making way for a by-election for flimsy reasons.

However, Najib's proposal did not receive unanimous backing from Umno, especially with Permatang Pauh Umno wanting to contest in the by-election.

Former party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad has also said that Umno should be afraid to fight the by-election.

Umno is worried that the ruling BN coalition would suffer a fifth consecutive by-election lost in Penisular Malaysia since the March 2008 nation-wide polls.

Meanwhile, the political bureau meeting is also expected to discuss other political matters in the country.

Also to be present at the meeting would be the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wing heads and all state Umno leaders.

Najib in Brunei

In another development, Prime Minister Najib will be making an inaugural working visit to Brunei for two days starting today, reported Bernama .

najib and rosmah 250608 02 He will be accompanied by his wife Rosmah Mansor, several cabinet ministers and senior government officials.

During the visit, Najib will have an audience with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, followed by a four-eye meeting to discuss issues of mutual interest with the aim to further enhance and strengthen the friendship and bilateral cooperation between the two countries, said Wisma Putra in a statement.

Najib and Sultan Hassanal is expected to discuss the ongoing territorial dispute over the oil-rich Limbang area.

The Brunei sultan will also host a dinner in honour of Najib.