Muhyiddin: Time for Pak Lah to go

SINGAPORE, Sept 10 - Umno vice president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in what will be seen as a trigger for moves to oust the embattled Prime Minister, said party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should consider retiring soon - ahead of his planned two-year schedule.

Muhyiddin, who has been instrumental in moves to bring former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad back into the Umno fold, said Abdullah should consider revising his transition time-table given recent events.

"I have said it before that 2010 is too long away," the International Trade and Industry Minister said at the sidelines of the Forbes conference here today.
Abdullah is facing renewed challenges from within his own party, with significant numbers seemingly backing Bukit Bendera division chief Ahmad Ismail's defiance of the Umno president, and from the Opposition.

"PM may have to rethink whether the deadline is tenable," said Muhyiddin, who also praised Mahathir at the press conference.

Mahathir's intention to apply to rejoin Umno has been receiving strong support from party grassroots and some leaders.