updated version
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad agreed to retain his posts in Umno and Barisan Nasional after the party's supreme council members successfully talked him into revoking his decision to quit.
Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Mahathir agreed to remain as the party's president and the prime minister after members of the supreme council pleaded with him.
"We met him in a special room. It took us a long time. We conveyed to him the unanimous wishes of the supreme council that he withdraws his resignation and retains all his party and government posts.
"When he finally understood our wishes, he agreed to do it," said Abdullah in a special announcement aired live over TV station RTM1.
Accompanying Abdullah were the three Umno vice-presidents, Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Najib Abdul Razak and Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin, and secretary-general Mohd Khalil Yaakob and information chief Megat Junid.
Earlier, an hour after Mahathir announced his shocking decision, Abdullah told party delegates attending the Umno annual general assembly that the premier had agreed to stay on.
This was greeted with loud cheers from the delegates, many of whom were weeping openly.
The rapturous applause was then followed with chants of 'Hidup Mahathir', 'Hidup Mahathir' (Long live Mahathir).
Quit shocker
At about 6pm, Mahathir who appeared normal when winding-up the debate of the three-day assembly, suddenly said, amid tears, that he has decided to relinquish his positions in Umno and Barisan Nasional.
Shouts of disapproval then reverberated through the Dewan Merdeka at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Abdullah immediately announced that the supreme council was tabling a resolution not to accept Mahathir's resignation while other stunned party leaders rushed to the podium and surrounded the premier.
As Wanita Umno chief Rafidah Aziz, Youth chief Hishamuddin Hussein and others tried desperately to coax him, Mahathir shook his head and replied:"I've decided a long time ago"
Tear-stained faces
There were also anguished and tear-stained faces in the crowd, including non-Umno members, who were following the assembly's proceedings on a large screen at the PWTC foyer.
Following this, Umno permanent chairperson Sulaiman Ninam Shah told the delegates that the meeting would be adjourned for 10 minutes and party leaders led the premier to the presidential room.
Here, Abdullah, the vice-presidents, Khalil, Megat as well as the premier's wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali and family members desperately persuaded Mahathir for about an hour to reconsider his decision.
Then party veterans, such as former Wanita chief Aishah G
hani, former supreme council member Ghazali Shafie, former Kedah menteri besar Osman Aroff and Mahathir's personal aides entered the room.
Also called in was the premier's foe-turned-ally Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Later, the party's Wanita, Youth and Puteri movements reaffirmed their support for Mahathir by making brief appearances on RTM1.
"We fully support the PM in his decision to retain his posts and we pledge to work harder to ensure Umno's future," said Rafidah.
Meanwhile, Puteri Umno chief Azalina Othman Said expressed her sadness over the episode.
"We hope and appeal to the president so that he will remain as our leader
The supreme council convened an emergency meeting tonight, to show their unanimous support to the 76-year-old premier who has been in power for over 21 years.
No conspiracy
When contacted by malaysiakini , Umno supreme council member Shahrir Samad denied that there was a conspiracy within the party to oust Mahathir.
"As far as I know, there is no internal conspiracy from anyone at any level. I was as shocked as everyone else here (in PWTC). No one saw it coming.
"To me, he genuinely wanted to go, but the delegates wanted him to stay."
The Johor Baru Umno division chief, a strong critic within the party, said the delegates' response was a reflection of the members' support of Mahathir's leadership.
Asked whether Mahathir's shock announcement was meant to rally the party behind him ahead of the upcoming general elections, Shahrir said he didn't think so.
"He does not need such a mandate now. In fact, he is at his strongest today since 1999.
"Since (ex-finance minister) Daim's (Zainuddin) departure, I felt that he (Mahathir) needed time to do things his own way, to rectify the mess and clean-up outstanding matters."
Photos are TV images from RTM.
