The much-anticipated announcement by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to relinquish his posts by next March was warmly welcomed by Barisan Nasional leaders today.

When met after the special BN supreme council held at the Putra World Trade Centre today, Malacca Chief Minister and Umno vice president Mohd Ali Rustam said Abdullah made his decision with a "big heart" for a brighter future of the nation.

"It is a daring and honest decision from him to have Umno to be stronger together with (other) BN component parties," he added.

bn supreme council abdullah announcement 081008 01 Mohd Ali also confirmed his decision to go for the second post in the party if there were to be any "vacancy".

"As I have mentioned before, depending on the vacancy, I would offer myself, and that is what it looks like," he said.

"I am also supporting deputy president Najib Abdul Razak as a candidate for the president in the upcoming party polls and I am hoping other Umno divisions will follow-suit," he added.

Under the power transition plan agreed between Abdullah and his deputy Najib, the latter will take over as soon as Abdullah steps down, which will then give way for the deputy president post to be contested.

' No one persuaded him to stay on'

Meanwhile, PPP president M Kayveas revealed to the press later that "no one said anything" regarding Abdullah's decision during the 90-minute BN meeting held this late afternoon.

"No one said (in the meeting), ‘think carefully, or think again'. Everybody just kind of said that ‘it must've been a hard decision for him to make' and I guess BN accepted it (the decision)," said the former deputy minister.

kayveas Kayveas added "we have no other choice but to accept his decision".

"This is his right to decide because this issue is only pertaining to Umno. In BN, we have no issue because the Umno president will become the BN chairperson.

"Whatever it is, I am thanking him (Abdullah) for all his time with us in BN...we just wait until March," said Kayveas.

Below are excerpts of what other BN component leaders had to say:

S Samy Vellu, MIC president

We are thanking Abdullah for making this smooth transition plan and we are supporting him with his decision.

Koh Tsu Koon, Gerakan president

koh tsu koon 100907 We are impressed with his honesty and commitment to the country and BN/Umno as this decision clearly indicates that he has a positive attitude towards a smooth and stable transition plan.

We respect and accept his decision because he has been committed to implementing a lot of initiatives and reforms to the judiciary, anti-corruption and police force institutions.

We also support Najib as the upcoming prime minister.

Ong Ka Ting, MCA president

The BN component parties have clearly indicated that BN should have reforms to convince the people, especially after what had happened during the March 8 general election where most of the voters had given a message that they were not satisfied with the government.