Khir tells PM to spell out exit plan
Malaysiakini.com
Apr 14, 2008

Former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to put in place a succession plan that will see Najib Abdul Razak taking over without any delay. MCPX

“Abdullah must face the facts and make an exit or retirement plan that allows the taking over of the party and government leadership by his deputy Najib,” said Khir in his blog.

khir toyo interview 121207 seriousFormer Umno Selangor chief Khir, who is presently in Mekah to perform a minor haj, however was quick to add that this was his personal view.

He added although the party members still respected Abdullah, they nevertheless have their own views, which were reflected in the recent general election and in meetings involving grassroots party members.

“Thus the best way forward is for Abdullah and Najib to formulate a smooth and cordial succession plan.

“The succession period could be done in the short term or in the long term. However it must not be too long as to affect the smooth running of the government and party,” he added.

He added that if the succession was done in a proper manner, the people would start to respect Abdullah again as a responsible leader.

mahathir khir toyo kmu forum 010408 06Khir also said that he gathered in a recent meeting with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the latter will continue criticising Abdullah over the premier’s weak leadership.

He said that Mahathir felt that he had the responsibility to redeem the pride of Umno by openly and vocally seeking the removal of his hand-picked successor.

“However for Umno leaders like myself, we usually will just give a hint and make indirect suggestions in making our calls for the leader to step down. Making a public call for him to step down would be the very last act,” he said.

He added that Umno leaders fully understood the mood of the people, especially based on the clear signs delivered at the general election.

“Many Umno leaders have started to publicly call for Abdullah to step down. Some are also openly appearing in the public with Mahathir.”

Remove the quota system

Khir also said that within the party, the concentration of power with the president should be removed. He also urged for the quota system used for party polls be removed.

“Party members must have the freedom in electing party leaders without the bar imposed by the quota system,” he said.

umno party post polls quotaUnder the present system, a challenger for the top party posts are required to accumulate a required numbers of nominations before they can stand in the contest. For example a challenger needs 58 nominations before he could contest for the president’s post.

Many party leaders are now calling for the old system of just needing two nominations to be brought back to ensure a democratic election process in the party.

Khir said that Umno leaders should be brave in facing challenges in the party polls if they want to be respected by the people.

He also said that the change in leadership should also come with some changes in the government polices and programmes, especially the need to introduce some reforms in the administration structure in order to do away with bureaucracy.

He also urged for a re-look at the National Economy Policy as its present form was being rejected by some sections of the Malays for whom the policy was originally implemented.

Khir also proposed that the relationship between the Muslims and the non-Muslims too be seen objectively, especially on matters relating to freedom to profess any religion so to protect the Muslims.

abdullah ahmad badawi pak lah angry umnoIn recent weeks, Umno divisional leaders from Kedah, Penang and Johor have asked Abdullah to lay down his succession plan to allow Najib to take over.

Many have blamed Abdullah for the massive lost the party and BN suffered in the recent March 8 general election when BN failed to keep its two-thirds majority in the Parliament and lost control of four states - Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor.

The party will be holding its annual general meeting in December where former party vice president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has offered to challenge Abdullah for the top post.

Observers are saying that Abdullah might hand over his power to Najib in time for the December AGM.

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