Pak Lah to unveil resignation's mystery tomorrow
The 'mystery' surrounding Umno president and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's shocking announcement to quit his party and government posts is expected to be solved during the party's supreme council meeting tomorrow.
Contacted today, Umno vice-president Muhammad Muhd Taib said the matter will be discussed at the supreme council meeting, after which party deputy president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will announce the outcome.
Asked whether tomorrow's meeting was a positive development in the light of recent events, Muhammad, who is a supreme council member, said: "All I can say for now is that there is a way out of this. I can't say any more than that."
Asked what he meant by "there is a way out", he only said: "Why don't you wait for tomorrow." He declined to elaborate.
Muhammad was among those who had gone to Seri Perdana (the PM's official residence) with Abdullah, vice-presidents Najib Abdul Razak and Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin, secretary general Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Wanita chief Rafidah Aziz and Youth chief Hishammuddin Tun Hussein yesterday.
Utusan Malaysia today quoted Umno information chief Megat Junid Megat Ayob as saying that Abdullah will make an important announcement after the supreme council deliberates on Mahathir's position.
Reveal details
He said Abdullah will reveal details of the compromise reached between Mahathir and Umno's management committee after a meeting at Seri Perdana yesterday morning.
The Malay daily reported him as saying that throughout the hour-long meeting, Mahathir was adamant about relinquishing all posts in Umno and the BN, citing reasons of having been too long in power and his desire to spend time with his family and grandchildren.
Megat Junid had told Utusan Malaysia that the management committee had tried to persuade him to withdraw his decision by taking into account the feelings of the people and country.
"He seemed to understand the sentiment of Umno members and the people, but at the same time, he also wanted his feelings to be understood, about wanting to live freely as a normal citizen.
"Finally, there was a compromise between us and him, and this will be announced on Tuesday," he was quoted as saying.
In the dark
Another supreme council member, Shahrir Abdul Samad, when contacted said he did not know anything more than the fact that a supreme council meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow.
"If it is speculation, then I cannot talk about it. We will have to wait for tomorrow to find out what exactly is happening. In fact, I myself have not heard anything more than what has been said so far," he added.
Saturday evening, a tearful Mahathir shocked Umno delegates and the nation when he announced his decision to quit at the party's annual assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
However, an hour later, Abdullah ended the suspense when he announced that Mahathir had been successfully persuaded to retract his decision by the supreme council members.
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