No Pressure To Step Down, Says Abdullah

PUTRAJAYA, March 9 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said there is no question of him resigning as the Prime Minister because he is still getting strong support especially from Umno leaders.

In fact, Abdullah said he would seek an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara tomorow for the swearing-in as the Prime Minister.

He said this at his official residence, Sri Perdana, here in response to rumours that he was being pressured to step down.

"I will not step down from any post because I feel no pressure," he said a day after leading the BN in securing a new mandate in the general election yesterday.

He also said that Umno leaders had expressed their support for him to continue as Prime Minister.

Abdullah, who is also Umno president, expressed his gratitude to the people who had supported the BN to enable it to form the government.

He also thanked the security forces for ensuring that the election process went smoothly. He said the Election Commission (EC) had in fact discharged its responsibilities with transparency and trust which was proven when the opposition also won.

Present at Sri Perdana to voice their solid support for Abdullah were his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin, Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz and vice-chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Umno Youth head Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, newly-elected Tasek Gelugor member of parliament Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop and former information minister Datuk Paduka Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.

Hishammuddin said Umno Youth was solidly behind the Prime Minister.

"Umno Youth is solidly behind the top leadership and will continue to give its support (to Abdullah)," he said.

Kadir said the question of the Prime Minister resigning did not arise because Abdullah had led the Barisan Nasional (BN) to win in the general election.

"There's no necessity for the BN to secure a two-third majority to form the government. A simple majority is sufficient," he added.

-- BERNAMA