Transition plan: PM to brief BN leaders after Raya

Barisan Nasional component leaders will have to wait until next week the earliest for the prime minister to brief them on the leadership transition plan.

According to PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today he would only set a date for such a meeting after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.

"When we meet ... we will have discussions ... after (Hari) Raya (Aidilfitri)," he told reporters at the government's Aidilfitri open house at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) today.

Abdullah was responding to comments in media reports that some BN leaders were unhappy for not having been consulted on a change in the transition plan.

Under the original plan, Abdullah, the Umno president, was to have handed over power to Deputy Prime Minister and Umno Deputy President Najib Abdul Razak in June 2010.

However, it was decided later that the transition of power take place earlier than that date, and the Umno general assembly scheduled for December this year has been postponed to March next year to facilitate this.

Hindraf's Supporter At PM'S Open House

The premier is also supposed to disclose his plans before Oct 9 if he is going to defend his Umno presidency post next March.Abdullah also said he had conveyed the decision on the transition plan to some of the BN leaders informally when he met them.

However he stressed that a proper briefing for all BN leaders would be held after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Bernama also reported that Abdullah was asked at the Aidilfitri reception today if he was sad that this could be his last Hari Raya Aidilfitri as the prime minister.

Abdullah responded by saying that he was happy as usual.

"I am in a good mood. I am celebrating Raya. Do I look different?" he said with a smile.

Meanwhile, more than 200 Hindraf supporters were seen at the open house seeking to meet Abdullah.

The Hindu Rights Action Front, whose five top leaders are detained without trial under the Internal Security Act, were there to ask the prime minister to free them and other ISA detainees.

Abdullah received a huge Hari Raya card from the wife and daughter of Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy, who is in self-imposed exile in London for fear that he too would be arrested under ISA.

The prime minister also received a gift basket from Waythamoorthy's wife, K Shanti, and his six-year-old daughter, W Vwaishhnnavi (left).

Vwaishhnnavi had earlier this year had unsuccessfully attempted to give flowers to the prime minister.