UMNO deputy president Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, while expressing shock and sadness over Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's resignation from Umno, urged Umno members to remain calm, saying he would continue to discuss with party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on efforts to strengthen the party.

Najib also said it was crucial that the Barisan Nasional government, which had been given the mandate to rule by the people, continue to perform its responsibility as mandated by the rakyat and not be affected by Umno's internal issues.

Reading from a statement here, when meeting Malaysian journalists attending the "World Economic Forum on the Middle East", Najib, who is also deputy prime minister, advised Umno members to continue to have faith in the efforts to rebuild the party.

"I am very shocked and sad that Dr Mahathir has announced his decision to leave Umno. He has contributed a lot to the party and country. I have met with Tun before this and I am willing to meet him to discuss his latest action."

Najib noted that previously any problems were resolved within Umno.
"Umno is a party which is sacred to the Malays and has been the backbone of the Malay struggle for a long time and will be so in the future. I will continue to discuss with party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on efforts to strengthen the party and also on the transfer of party leadership as expressed by the president himself."

Najib is scheduled to return to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow morning.