KUALA LUMPUR: Umno leaders have welcomed the revised transition plan and the postponement of the party's general assembly and polls to March.

Among other things, they said that it was orderly and that it took into consideration the views of members.

Party supreme council member and Kelantan Umno liaison chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the exact date of the transition was the prerogative of party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"The emergency meeting was to hear the outcome of the discussion between the party president and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak," Annuar said here yesterday.

"The supreme council has unanimously supported the decisions made at the discussion."
Abdullah had said he would decide by Oct 9 -- when the party's 191 divisions start nominating leaders for party posts -- whether he would defend his position.

In Pasir Puteh, Kelantan Umno Veterans Association chairman Datuk Rozali Ishak said the decision showed that Abdullah had the party's interest at heart.

"Pak Lah is sensitive to the views of party members. The decision is by no means a small sacrifice."

Rozali hoped that with the decision, there would be no more individuals calling for Abdullah's early exit.

Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu said the decision was based on the views of grassroots members and it was commendable that the party leaders had considered their opinions.

"Now, the transition of power would be done according to party traditions," he said after witnessing a handing over of kuih Raya to soldiers at the Malaysia-Thailand border here.

The Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail was at the function to hand over the kuih Raya.

Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the handover of the premiership from Abdullah to Najib was pointless unless it was accompanied by changes in the nation's policies.

"It defeats the purpose of naming a successor if there is no shift in economic policy to re-distribute the wealth from the government, especially in Petronas, to the people."