Pak Lah to resign on April 2, handover the next day

(The Malaysian Insider) – Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today he will see the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on April 2 to submit his resignation as Prime Minister.

"Insha Allah, this will be accepted," Abdullah told delegates at the end of the Umno general assembly.

Officials said the handover date will be on April 3, as has been previously reported by The Malaysian Insider.

The delegates gave Abdullah a standing ovation as the party permanent chairman asked them to chant “Hidup Pak Lah”.

Among those present at the hall was Abdullah's predecessor and trenchant critic Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Umno assembly had a surprise visitor today and he got a solid reception, disrupting the meeting for a couple of minutes.

Midway through Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's speech, Dr Mahathir and his wife walked into Dewan Merdeka and took their seats at the balcony.

There was sustained applause from delegates for a man who led the party for more than 20 years and who was a member before he quit in protest against Abdullah's leadership last year.

Muhyddin said he hoped that Mahathir's presence today indicates that he was returning to Umno.

He also opined that it was an endorsement of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership.

There were puzzled faces on the main stage because only yesterday Dr Mahathir had lashed out at Umno Youth for electing Khairy Jamaluddin ahead of his son Datuk Mukhriz.

He also slammed the party as supporters of the corrupt and a disgrace to Malays.

The Malaysian Insider understands that supporters of Umno's top two leaders urged him to show up at the assembly.