Zahid calls for emergency Umno supreme council meeting

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called for an emergency supreme council meeting Sunday (Feb 23), hours after a two-day retreat with PAS ended.

The meeting was called at 4pm at the party headquarters here.

Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa confirmed it was a special meeting that was not planned earlier.

"Our party president asked me in the morning to arrange a special meeting at 4pm today (Sunday). And here we are, straight from Janda Baik (in Pahang)," he said.

Among those present are vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Wanita chief Datuk Noraini Ahmad.

As at 5.30pm, the meeting was still going on.

Various political parties are holding separate meetings amid rumours on the possibility of a new government coalition.

On Friday (Feb 21), Dr Mahathir said the Pakatan presidential council has given him the full discretion when to step down as the Prime Minister.

Dr Mahathir had repeatedly said he would step down after Malaysia hosted the Apec Summit in November.

Prior to the 14th General Election, Pakatan had agreed that Dr Mahathir would be prime minister for two years before passing the baton to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.