The reason the Umno annual general assembly this year clashes with the Deepavali celebration is because of Prime Minister and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's "tight schedule".

"It happened (that) the PM's schedule is very tight, (he's) only free this week," explained party secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad today.

Radzi was asked by journalists why the Umno meeting clashes with Deepavali - a gazetted public holiday - which is observed by Hindus today.

The Prime Minister's Office has earlier sought the cooperation of the mainstream newspapers, the majority of which are observing a public holiday today, to publish Abdullah's speech tomorrow.

Abdullah delivered his fourth Umno presidential address at the opening of the party assembly yesterday.

The five-day assembly began on Monday evening with a two-day meet held simultaneously by its Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings, followed by the main body's three-day meet which kicked off yesterday.

MIC leaders upset?

It is believed that the clash in dates was one of few reasons why MIC president Samy Vellu had earlier directed his party to cancel all Deepavali celebrations.

The ban, which was also to be a mark of protest against the recent demolition of a 100-year-old temple in Shah Alam, was however retracted by Samy Vellu hours later.

According to some political observers, the fact that Umno was holding its AGM during Deepavali was a "slap in the face" for MIC.

Singapore's Straits Times has reported on Tuesday that Abdullah expressed his deep disappointment over the MIC protest during a close-door briefing with party delegates early this week.

Some Umno leaders had shouted "Sack him!" (Samy Vellu) during the briefing before Abdullah called for "calm".