PUTRAJAYA, March 18 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today dispelled rumours of plans to pass a vote of no confidence against him, saying that he had the strong support of Umno.

He also said that he did not have any problems with his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said this when asked about speculations on plans to pass a motion of no confidence against him at the Umno general assembly in June and also on his relationship with Najib.

"As far as I am concerned, I am here. I have been given a very strong mandate, I believe... just short of eight seats of the two-third majority. I am not one to turn away from the mandate which has been given me.

"They (the voters) have given me their vote and it is my intention to continue. I have the support of the Umno leadership and Barisan Nasional (BN)," he told a news conference after announcing the cabinet line-up at Perdana Putra here.

On his relationship with Najib, he said: "I have the best of relationships with Najib. You are asking me that....people make accusations about many things."

Asked why Najib was not present at the announcement, Abdullah said it was because Najib had yet to be sworn in as the Deputy Prime Minister.

"You are reading into too many things," he told reporters.

The prime minister also confirmed that Gua Musang member of parliament and veteran Umno politician Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah had sent a letter to him elaborating on the BN's fall in the just-concluded polls.

"He sent the letter to the office of the Umno secretary-general. It will go through the normal procedure," he said.

He also quashed a suggestion that Umno would hold an extraordinary general assembly next month.

Abdullah, clad in a dark striped suit, was in a jovial mood when he walked into the room earlier, and even asked the reporters if anyone had taken bets on who would be named as cabinet members.

Comments (18)

...
written by CPY, March 18, 2008 18:22:54

Aiyah, BN. The more you support Pak Lah, the more worse u'll become.
Perjuanganmu sudah selesai
Undurlah
Pak Lah

report abuse

disagree 2

agree 15

...
written by Malaysiaku, March 18, 2008 18:26:22

Abdullah, Abdullah, why don't you do a blind vote of 'No Confidence' to see how much you will get?

I bet you it will be another Julius Ceasar replay. History is about to repeat itself. After all when you go, there is always the 'Demolition Man' waiting to take your place :-). Berani ambil cabaran ke?

report abuse

disagree 1

agree 6

...
written by CitizenBodohland, March 18, 2008 18:32:06

Sebuah KABINET KAYU daripada seorang PERDANA MENTERI KAYU... dah laa kayuuu..
kuat tidoq pulak tu....

A typical orang tua tak sedar diri....

report abuse

disagree 2

agree 12

...
written by fireduck, March 18, 2008 18:47:24

He's been given a strong mandate ..... by who ah? The people of Kepala Batas only chose you as their MP, but the rest of Malaysia have no chance to choose or NOT to choose you as the Prime Minister (remember, "I am the Prime Minister for all Malaysians'). So, let's hold a referendum and allow every Malaysian to have a say on whether they want you as PM or not. It's not about taking the federal govt away from BN (although we would have love to), just let us have a chance to choose our PM. Fair?

Then, I WILL place a bet on the end result.

report abuse

disagree 1

agree 17

...
written by loosecannon, March 18, 2008 18:58:36

The PM still holds the trump card. It matters how he hold it to make his play and save his position. Umno is now in disarray with infighting going on. It's unlikely that they will be able to gang up on him now that he has his new cabinet members to support him. Not everybody in the party blames him for the loss for their election losses. The problem started with Mahathir. His weakness was his inability to put everyone in their places and pay homage to him like they did Mahathir. As a result, big and little Nepoleons were running rampage everywhere.

With his new cabinet, he can make the necessary changes that he's been promising but unable to deliver, something he much admitted himself. The big question is 'can he deliver this time?

report abuse

disagree 2

agree 1

...
written by Nonama Nomane, March 18, 2008 19:02:04

Pak Lah quashed a suggestion that Umno would hold an extraordinary general assembly next month.

I don't think Pak Lah realise the gravity of the situation. He is still banging on 2004 election euphoria. Well, let us see how strong will wind be blowing against him. It is brewing steadily now and may pick up momentum before May 12 and we will see whether he can stand up against the category 5 cyclone.

report abuse

disagree 1

agree 3

...
written by Florance, March 18, 2008 19:46:36

Pak Lah did promise that he will work with the people, for the people together with the people..in his last election, I am sure we have not forgotten
that we had two demonstration (showing the unhappiness) by the people for the people and together with the people. This itself show how capable he is in administrating the country. "KATA ITU KOTA" if you cannot keep it once how are you gonna manage to keep it this time.
We are not against your personal life but for the sake of the people and their well being it's time you reconsider your offer and leave with dignity and respect.

report abuse

disagree 1

agree 3

...
written by omarkhayyam, March 18, 2008 19:59:14

each time he says something ..... "Murphy's Law come into play" ......... so folks hold ur horses and watch Nostradamus predict his own fate

cheers

report abuse

disagree 1

agree 2

...
written by malaysian2008, March 18, 2008 20:21:10

As far as I am concerned, I am here. I have been given - a very strong mandate -, I believe... just short of eight seats of the two-third majority

comoon bodowi ,you are there b'cos you refuse to go; look hard at the mirror & you will see your "thick face". The rakyat already given you the strong mandate - leave gracefully, your service is no longer required. Don't be like samy or howard (ex australia PM).

just 8 seats short of 2/3 majority, what a shame of you to say that. THE BN all the while never loose 2/3 majority in the past 50 years, but you & KJ SIL 4th floors freshies had given the BN one big blow and you still has the gut to say the rakyat back you, please compare 2004 when they support you and 2008 result when the reject you. Go please go, but if you stay I believe you will make BN out of job the next election.

on 2nd thoughts may be you should stay on.

report abuse

disagree 0

agree 7

...
written by HARIMAU BIN ABDULLAH, March 18, 2008 20:37:23

It is a grave mistake to bring in M & M.
AAB should be smart enough to give Mukhriz the post instead of M & M.
I am sure bloggers will have a good time to criticise the decision.
Bloggers hate M & M

report abuse

disagree 1

agree 7

...
written by shooks, March 18, 2008 20:58:41

"As far as I am concerned, I am here. I have been given a very strong mandate, I believe... just short of eight seats of the two-third majority.

It's confirmed. We have an ignorant idiot for a Prime Minister.

God help us.

report abuse

disagree 0

agree 7

...
written by bexe, March 18, 2008 21:39:16

How can we the people have any confidence in you Pak Lah? You say you have our mandate and then you go and squander that away by your appointments of your cabinet! How can you have a big crook like the man with 3M's to his name in your cabinet? He has committed crimes and has been somehow absolved of them. If you want a clean Gopvernment, start by picking people who has the integrity. Pak Lah you are hopeless and shameless. Your second Finance Minister and your Deputy also needs to be cleansed and by that I mean have them investigated and cleared before you appoint them. How can you allow us to live with that stentch?

The next thing on your plate has to be to have a Royal Commission re-institute the Judiciary. If you heard what the people want in the election, we want an independent, judiciary manned by people of the highest intregrity and honor. If you fail to give us this, you will be hounded until you are replaced.

report abuse

disagree 0

agree 5

...
written by apanama, March 18, 2008 21:42:50

paklah. dengar amanat hadhari dari aku, rakyat biasa di kampong.
(memang benar, internet dah sampai kampong aku, hehehe, takut ya...)

aku setuju sangat kau masih jadi tunggul kayu.
jadilah PM sampai kau tumbang.
jangan harap kau dapat bangkit lagi.
tsunami yang telah melanda kamu akan terus menampar dan menampar muka tebal kau.

aku pun setuju kau lantik muhammadx2. biar dia masuk kampung dan desa.
tapi aku akan bagi amaran dulu kepada gadis gadis sunti dan keluarge2 kat kampong halaman aku. berwaspada kat mattaib ni...nanti anak gadis semua dia kahwin satu persatu kat golok macam anak sultan selangor.

aku setuju kau jadi menteri kewangan. sebab aku tahu kau tak pandai kira-kira.
aku tahu kau tengah ambil tuisyen dengan menantu kau kat rembau.
tentu satu hari kau akan tersilap kira lagi.
bila kamu sedar, habih punah ranah, dah terlambat.
nasi sudah jadi tahi.

paklah - kau dah sumber segala inspirasi bloggers.
lebih lama kau simpan orang2 kat kamunting, semakin meluap2 kemarahan rakyat.
bukan saja kepada kamu, malah kepada seisi keluarge dan sanak saudara kau sampai
generasi2 akan datang lepas kau tidur, dengkur dan hancur lebur dalam kubur.

report abuse

disagree 0

agree 1

...
written by Kang Mas, March 18, 2008 23:26:16

Let the sleeping PM to carry on dreaming that the raayat supported him. He is a real asset for BR to trounce BN in PRU 13.

report abuse

disagree 0

agree 2

...
written by Sutha, March 19, 2008 00:56:57

Even the late wife had no confidence in him when the incestor was having quickies with his "former sister and now wife".

The only thing this Assh@le is good at is Sleeping, either on the job or with his darling Ginnie.

report abuse

disagree 0

agree 0

...
written by red door, March 19, 2008 02:05:08

Abdullah, clad in a dark striped suit, was in a jovial mood when he walked into the room earlier, and even asked the reporters if anyone had taken bets on who would be named as cabinet members.

Ahh! I see! Islam Hadhari dah HALALkan betting

report abuse

disagree 0

agree 0

...
written by rayfire, March 19, 2008 08:11:07

Oh Boy
He still BELIEVES he has STRONG SUPPORT???
From whom?
People are still giving good stories for him to hear I see
Wasn't THE MESSAGE on 8th March CLEAR ENOUGH????!
And what is this articles he is talking about, that said his plans are good and such, guess he is reading UMNOs Buletin perhaps, someone show him how to access Malaysia-Today and Malaysiakini please. Then he will know THE REAL DEAL!

report abuse

disagree 0

agree 0

...
written by technoboy, March 19, 2008 08:41:15

All the rots were inherited from TDM and those UMNO morons who are still in power, AAB is not to be blamed alone. In fact TDM is the bogger devil of the two.

report abuse

disagree 1

agree 0