PM: I’ll defend my post!

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has reiterated that he will defend his Umno presidency in the party elections in December.

Even though he has announced his plans for his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak to take over, he has not decided precisely on the date of handover.

“Anytime doesn’t mean two or three months,” he said at a briefing on Sunday to media leaders attending the World Economic Forum on East Asia here.

Abdullah denied that political uncertainty had negatively impacted foreign investments and he had, in fact, received many enquiries from the Middle East.

On the economy, he said a growth of 5.5% was achievable and that some mega projects could be adjusted while those people-centric projects with immediate impact would be implemented under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

“This will be after the midterm review when we will also introduce new areas of ‘soft development’,” he said, referring to the corridor developments especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

On the criticism that some of the reform measures were still weak steps, he said: “Reform has to be gradual. I will continue my work and it is not my attitude that just because you do not support me, I say forget it.”

His priorities would be to strengthen the Anti Corruption Agency, judiciary and police force while ensuring quality opportunities in the development corridors to address the issue of equitable income distribution.

On the proposal to repeal the Internal Security Act, he said there could be some aspects to be reviewed and amendments. He would not be “completely doing away with preventive detention” although ensuring justice was equally important.

In the case of the Hindu Rights Action Force leaders under detention, he said he knew how the people felt, but he had studied the reports and viewed that it was not an issue of politics.

Rather, it was a case of people resorting to activities that undermined national security, he said.

Abdullah said he was aware of Opposition-led protests against high prices.

“They can continue but I will do what is best for the people.

“They are furious (at the high prices including fuel prices) but they have been getting things cheap. The rate of increase and size (of subsidy payments) has become untenable and unsustainable in view of the amount we have to set aside for the annual development budget.”