8/14/2019 The Sun Malaysia Cover (4 April 2008)

1/1

by Husna Yusopnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

PUTRAJAYA: Umno Youth chief Datuk SeriHishammuddin Hussein declared yesterday hewill not defend his post in the party elections inDecember, refusing to openly endorse a possiblesuccessor.

We have to look forward. We have to dochanges and reforms, re-build the party andthe wing. And if the Youth is still in a situationwhere they dont know what my plans are comeDecember, that becomes a barrier for us tomove forward.

I feel today might be the right time for meto tell them about my plans after 10 years ofbuilding the Youth from the time when it wassplit to where it is now, he said when askedabout the timing of the announcement.

Hishammuddin, who is also educationminister, was speaking after announcing theministrys second report card for the EducationDevelopment Master Plan (2006-2010). Hisannouncement fuels speculation that he is goingfor a higher post.

But when asked if he was going for thedeputy president or vice-president post inUmno, he said it was something for thedelegates to decide.

Umno has three vice-presidential seats, oneof which became vacant after Tan Sri Isa Samadwas suspended for dabbling in money politics.The other elected vice-presidents are Datuk SeriAli Rustam and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

On whether Youth members are courageousand mature enough to choose a new leader, hesaid yes and he welcomed a contest.

Previously, what had hindered the two whohad offered themselves was my own position.So now I am making it clear. Let there be nohindrance and those who feel they are qualified,they should offer themselves according to thenormal process and let the delegates decide, hesaid.

It was reported on Wednesday that DatukMukhriz Mahathir and Datuk Seri Dr MohdKhir Toyo had said they would offer themselvesas candidates for the Youth chief post ifHishammuddin declined to defend it.

Asked whether his deputy KhairyJamaluddin agreed with his decision not tocontest, Hishammuddin said it was his right todo so.

When I make a decision, it is usually in theinterest of the party. Not for the posts, materialor money, he said, adding that he was notpressured to let go of the post.

Asked if he wants Khairy to contest for the

Youth chief post, Hishammuddin said: It isnot for me to decide. I can only answer what iswithin my control.

Asked if he had a personal preference of asuccessor, he said he had his own favourite buthe would rather keep it to himself.

When suggested that it is a tradition for thedeputy to move up the ladder once the seatis vacated, he said it was not necessarily so,as (listening to) the voices from the ground,clearly they are in power.

On whether he would accept any nominationfor the top two posts in Umno, he said he wouldnot respond to that as it did not matter at thispoint of time. Our duty now is to rebuildthe party, look at how we have fared (in theelections) and listen to the grassroots. We haveno time to think of certain posts or chase afterthis or that. Our task is to rebuild the spirit ofour members in certain states, he said.

Hishammuddin, the son of third primeminister Tun Hussein Onn, also said he did notexpect a tough fight for the Youth chief post,unless people are not sincere and honest inoffering themselves.

When contacted for a response, Khairy saidhe did not have any comments for the timebeing while Mukhriz could not be reached onhis mobile phone.

The nations FREE newspaper

TELLING IT AS IT IS

MEMBER AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS (MALAYSIA)

30 sen for delivery to your doorstep

No. 4485 PP 2644/12/2008 (020369)

FridayApril 4, 2008

www.sun2surf.com

275,000 COPIES DAILY

Award winning newspaperfor public service reporting

and opinion writing.

New initiatives to contain inflationKUALA LUMPUR: The governmentis working on new initiatives to curbinflation and is expected to announcesome of them soon, InternationalTrade & Industry Minister Tan SriMuhyiddin Yassin said yesterday.

Some of these matters (pertain-

ing to the inflation issue) were high-lighted by the prime minister duringthe meeting, he said when askedto comment on the outcome of hismeeting in Putrajaya last Tuesday withDatuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawiand other ministers on efforts to curb

inflation.He (PM) also highlighted certain

things that must be looked at moreclosely and what certain ministriesand agencies need to do.

Once (Second Finance Minister)Tan Sri Nor (Mohamed Yakcop) comes

back to the cabinet with his full reporton studies (on the countrys currentstate of inflation and economy), thenthe government will decide on thenew initiatives to curb inflation and (atthe same time) put more income intothe pockets of consumers, he said

after an official visit to the MalaysianIndustrial Development Finance Bhd.

Muhyiddin declined to elaborateon the new initiatives other than tosay that it will be a package to be an-nounced by Abdullah soon, with someof them expected to be implemented

before Budget 2009 is tabled.When announcing his new cabinetline-up recently, Abdullah had said hispriority was to support lower incomegroups suffering from higher prices ofconsumer goods.

Bank Negara Malaysia in its 2007

Annual Report released recentlynoted that Malaysia was expected topost a higher average headline infla-tion of 2.5-3.0% this year comparedto 2% last year as a result of thepass-through effect of global inflationas well as the continued strength of

domestic demand.The central bank said the period ofhigh uncertainty surrounding globalgrowth and inflation prospects wasevident from the second half of lastyear and was expected to continuethis year. Bernama

Hishammakes

way

UMNO YOUTH

CHIEF NOT

DEFENDING

TOP POST

Mugabes biggest battle yet pg18 Dancing to different tune pg38 Entertainment

DATUK Seri Abdullah Ah-mad Badawi welcomesPenang Chief Minister LimGuan Eng at Putrajaya. Limreceived an assurance thatfederal projects planned forthe state will be fulfilled.Abdullah in return advisedLim to be careful with hiswords as he was now agovernment leader.

New kids inthe House ...

PM meetsPenang CM...

BATU MP Tian Chua (PartiKeadilan Rakyat) andKhairy Jamaluddin (BarisanNasional), no strangersto speaking their mindsand taking their causes tothe streets, have anotherthing in common. They arenewly-elected peoplesrepresentatives and will bemaking their Dewan Rakyatdebut later this month.They joined other MPs fororientation at ParliamentHouse yesterday.

Full report Page 2

Full report Page 4

SHARILAMIN/THESUN