Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today refused to be drawn into speculations that his predecessor Dr Mahathir would be sacked from Umno.

"I'm not sure such matters were the subject of discussions (at the supreme council meeting on Thursday). I do not wish to comment on that," said the premier just before leaving China after attending the Asean-China commemorative summit.

He said that he did not know the agenda of the council meeting, adding that he would be briefed by party secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad once he is back in Kuala Lumpur.

However Abdullah, who is also the Umno president, said he was always open to discuss any issue that was important to Umno.

The party management committee can also recommend matters that needed to be discussed, he added.

Following the bitter fall-out between Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his hand-picked successor, many Umno leaders have called for the sacking on the former premier from the party.

Some others said that Mahathir should be dismissed from his government-appointed advisory positions in government-linked agencies and organisations.

Earlier today Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak warned the government must not alienate citizens by becoming distracted by its bitter feud with Mahathir.

But Abdullah dismissed this fear by saying that his differences with Mahathir will not alienate Malaysians. He added that the people have to decide on what they want.

Third year in power

According to a Bernama report, Abdullah said many people were concerned of what was happening between him and Mahathir but they have also asked him to concentrate on implementing the Ninth Malaysia Plan which would yield many results by the middle of next year.

"I think Malaysians will have to decide on what they want, what they would like to do and what they are looking for if they want me to concentrate on what I am doing with my colleagues," he said.

Abdullah also appeared surprise when reminded that today was his third anniversary of his premiership.

"Three years is not enough to do work as there are still much to be done. The Ninth Malaysia Plan has just been implemented and several projects under the Eighth Malaysia Plan have not been completed yet," he said.

Mahathir has been a constant critic of Abdullah's leadership in the past few months. He has accused the premier of economic mismanagement, corruption and nepotism.

His main grouse has been the Abdullah's reversal of some of his policies and cancelling projects initiated by him including the crooked bridge project to replace the Johor Causeway linking Malaysia and Singapore.

Mahathir renewed his attacks on Abdullah after having a reconciliation meeting with the prime minister on Oct 22 including alleging that Malaysia had become a police state.