Malaysia's Deputy PM says he will contest UMNO presidency

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said on Thursday that he would contest the presidency of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), local media reported on Thursday.

Najib, who is also UMNO's deputy president, made this remark when attending a Hari Raya Aidilfitri reception in Malaysia's northern state of Terengganu.

Since Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi decided not to seek re-election as UMNO president, Najib said that he wished to offer himself as a candidate for the UMNO presidency.

Najib praised Badawi's decision not to seek re-election in the party election next March, saying it reflects the prime minister's sincerity in placing the interests of the people, party and nation above everything else, according to Malaysia's national news agency Bernama.

Najib also said Badawi's decision was in keeping with the UMNO tradition of allowing the power transition process to take place in an orderly, proper and smooth manner.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said here on Wednesday that he would not defend his post as UMNO president at the party's general assembly next March.

Badawi also said that he would step down as Prime Minister and chairman of the ruling Coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), or National Front, after that, according to Bernama.

The power transition from Badawi to Najib reportedly was originally arranged in 2010.

On Sept. 26 this year, a special UMNO supreme council meeting decided that the UMNO general assembly and supreme council elections, scheduled for Dec. 16 to 20 this year, would be postponed to March next year to facilitate an early transition of power.

Under the current BN system, the UMNO president is also the country's prime minister and BN chairman.