KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no revolt in Umno or Parliament. Yesterday, Umno MPs unanimously voiced their support for Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the prime minister and party president. They assured him none of them would be leaving the party.

MP Razali Ibrahim (BN-Muar) speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby after the closed-door meeting with the PM.

Datuk Shahrir Samad (BN-Johor Baru): 'There were no discussions at all on Dr Mahathir and no one is moving out from Umno. Issues brought up include doing work as members of parliament. How to work together. How to work effectively as MPs and work with ministers.'

On Monday, former party president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad stunned members by announcing that he was quitting the party until his successor Abdullah stepped down.

During a 40-minute closed-door meeting between Abdullah and the MPs, Dr Mahathir was mentioned just once.

At the meeting, which began at 1.20pm, Datuk Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) represented the Umno MPs in pledging their support and loyalty to Abdullah, Umno and the government. They also roundly applauded Abdullah when he finished speaking at the hastily called meeting.

Seventy-one of Umno's 79 MPs, attended the meeting. Conspicuous by his absence was Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (BN-Jerlun) who left the House 10 minutes before the morning session ended.
At the meeting, the MPs called on Abdullah to set up an Umno backbenchers group, to be helmed by Datuk Anifah Aman (BN-Kimanis). Abdullah declined to comment on the meeting but MPs described the mood as cordial.

"Dr Mahathir was mentioned by Abdullah just once. He spoke for about five minutes," said Razali Ibrahim (BN-Muar).

Razali said Abdullah had called the meeting to find out how Umno MPs felt about Dr Mahathir's decision to quit the party. He told them the party was bigger than any individual and had to continue no matter what had happened.

Razali said Mohamed Aziz then told Abdullah that none of the Umno MPs were leaving the party but would continue to remain and serve the party and government.

Home Minister Datuk Syed Hamid Albar said Umno did not belong to one person.

"Umno is the property of the Malays. We will continue to be in the party and support the prime minister. We did not discuss Dr Mahathir in great detail," said Syed Hamid.

Meanwhile, Anifah said he indicated to Abdullah after Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz had proposed his name to head the proposed Umno backbenchers group, that he had not decided if he would accept the nomination.

"I need to speak to my friends. I want to know if I would be able to speak freely."

Anifah had been vocal in his criticism about the way the federal government had been treating Sabah.

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8 MPs who were absent

KUALA LUMPUR: Seventy-one of Umno's 79 MPs met the prime minister. The eight who did not meet the PM were:

- Datuk Seri Najib Razak (BN-Pekan), who is in Egypt.

- Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (BN-Pagoh), who is in New York.

- Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (BN-Jerlun), who left the House towards the end of the question and answer session.

- Datuk Seri Rafidah Abdul Aziz (BN-Kuala Kangsar), who left for a meeting.

- Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (BN-Gua Musang), who left for a meeting.

- Datuk Nurjazlan Rahmat (BN-Pulai), who had a meeting.

- Datuk Paduka Abu Bakar Taib (BN-Langkawi), who came to Parliament only in the afternoon.

- Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim (BN-Jelebu), who had an outside function.