Following the ruling coalition's electoral debacle in 2008, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was pressured to relinquish his post and step down as Umno president.

                                  

NONE However, his successor Najib Abdul Razak, who sustained an even more severe bruising in this year's polls with regard to BN's performance, will not be handing over the baton.

To his credit, Umno, on the other hand, emerged as the biggest winner with 88 parliament seats.

At a press conference this afternoon, Najib announced that he would be defending his Umno president's post should there be a contest in the coming party polls.

"I have decided to defend my post as Umno president following the support I received from the branches and divisions," he told reporters.

Previously, it was reported that his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin might take him on with the blessings of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

NONE However, the deputy prime minister quashed the speculation with his announcement at another function this evening that he would be defending his number two post.

Earlier, Najib declined to comment on whether he expected the president post to be challenged, saying this would be decided on Saturday at 5pm, when the contenders would be finalised.

The prime minister also said that he did not have a particular team and that all were part of his team in Umno.

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