KUALA LUMPUR: Umno supreme council members were yesterday given a clearer picture by party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on how the party should approach the ongoing talks with Pas on Malay unity and Islam.

Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said the prime minister briefed the council members on what had transpired in the three meetings held so far with Pas leaders.

Abdullah had emphasised that Islam, irrespective of both parties' ideology, must be the priority for the good of all Muslims in the country.

"The president stressed on Islam and wants the party to strive for unity on this basis," Muhammad said after the meeting. "He told us that when it comes to religion, there must not be any conflicts with others, only understanding."

When asked, Muhammad said Abdullah indicated that Umno was willing to carry on with the talks. This is despite ongoing protests from certain leaders within Pas that the talks should stop.
"Yes, it looks like there will be more talks (with Pas), but it will be on fundamental issues such as religion, that's all."

Muhammad said there was also no need to further discuss the succession plan announced by Abdullah recently.

He said the supreme council had already given its full support for the plan and as such there was no need for the party leadership to discuss it further.

"The party, however, is not stopping the members from airing their views.

"The same goes with the branch or division elections. They are free to nominate whoever they want for any position, including the top two posts."

Muhammad said this in response to calls by some quarters for Abdullah to hand over the leadership to his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, sooner than the agreed mid-2010.

He said other issues such as Terengganu's decision to replace its fleet of Perdana V6s with Mercedes Benzes and also Singapore's claim for territorial sea and exclusive economic zone around Pedra Branca were not discussed.

Meanwhile, the usually large group of journalists and photographers who had been waiting for almost four hours since 3pm were given a surprise when they were informed that Abdullah would not be holding a press conference.

Another group which was covering the party's disciplinary board meeting also ended up waiting in vain when there was also no press conference.

This is believed to be the first time that no press conference has been called after a supreme council meeting.

In Kuantan, the state Umno liaison committee yesterday denied that it had ordered branches not to pass any resolution relating to the two top party posts.

"There is no such restriction and they can discuss and pass whatever they want," its information chief Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin said here yesterday.

He said the committee had made a decision to support Abdullah as the president and Najib as his deputy.