KUALA LUMPUR, 26 March 2009: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today urged the people to give incoming Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak unflinching support to enable him to take Malaysia to greater heights.
Pledging his undivided support to the incoming Umno president and the prime-minister-in-waiting, Abdullah said he believed he was passing the reins to a younger captain, who had the maturity and experience, to navigate the nation through turbulence.
Delivering a keynote address themed “The Future and Survival of the Party” at the Umno general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), he said the burdens and responsibilities as Umno president and prime minister were immense.
“They are times when a decision creates controversy, there are times when a decision will not receive the support of all.
“It is the duty and responsibility of a leader to decide what is best for the people and the country even though it may cause unease.
“Nevertheless, despite any reservations we may have, our leader should be given the trust and stability of mind to allow him to continue to remain rational and objective.
“If we do not give him our support and trust, and if we choose to attack him and assassinate his character, we would be responsible for weakening our party and toppling our leader who sits in the prime minister’s chair.
“We would be responsible for eroding the system that we have built, the system that has enabled us to govern all these years.
“Heavy is the trust placed in the prime minister, who must fulfill his [or her] obligations as leader of the party, of our people, and of our nation.
“On his [or her] shoulders our hopes rest, for he [or she] is accountable to secure our future,” Abdullah said. — Bernama
