Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia:
The Prime Minister Of Malaysia, Datuk Abdullah Badawi said that he will defend his post as President of UMNO or United Malay National Organisation.
UMNO is the largest party in the National Front Coalition that still rules Malaysia.
According to tradition, the President of UMNO will automatically be the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
His announcement put to rest speculation about him resigning in the near future.
UMNO has amended its constitution after the fight between Mahathir Mohamad,the then President and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, a member of the party’s Supreme Council. That fierce fight in 1987 nearly dislodged Mahathir from his as President of UMNO when Tengku Razaleigh was defeated by only 11 votes.
Fearing a repetition of that fight, UMNO put in place a quota system whereby a member wishing to go for any top post needed at least thirty percent nominations from UMNO Divisions.
Ealy this year Mahathir himself called for an amendment to scrap that particular part of the constitution that he himself promoted previously.
The quota system is still firmly in place. Among its defenders are none other than Abdullah and Najib Razak. It is also public knowledge that there are many UMNO members wishing to dislodge both of them. Among those who have made their intention public is Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
And what about Mahathir himself? He had officially left UMNO and if history is to be our reference, it is highly unlikely that UMNO members will still go for him.