More drastic changes in UMNO

Unconfirmed reports revealed that UMNO Secretary General Dato’ Radzi Sheikh Ahmad resigned from his party post, citing “No longer able to contribute effectively”. Wilayah UMNO Chief Tengku Dato’ Seri Adnan Mansor is rumoured to take over.

It would also be interesting to see what will transpire in Wanita UMNO Chief Dato’ Seri Rafidah Aziz’s media conference this afternoon.

*An update as of 11.15am

Apparently, Radzi called for a media conference to announce his resgination from all party post, which include BN Secretary General.

Bernama com has the report:

March 19, 2008 11:04 AM

Radzi Sheikh Ahmad Resigns As Umno and BN Sec-Gen

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama)–Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, who was dropped from the Cabinet, has resigned as Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general with immediate effect, the former Home Affairs Minister announced today. – BERNAMA

*An update as of 5.45pmBernama.com published Rafidah’s media conference this afternoon:

March 19, 2008 17:05 PM

Rafidah Respects PM’s Decision, Remains As Wanita Head And MP     KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) — Former International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said today she accepted the decision of the Prime Minister to drop her from the Cabinet line-up announced Tuesday.Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry here, she said she appreciated that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wanted new faces in his Cabinet. Rafidah said she would continue to head the Wanita Umno movement and serve as the Member of Parliament for Kuala Kangsar, which she retained in the March 8 general election. “I had been dropped but I’m not sad. How could I be sad, I am proud of myself because I’ve lasted that long,” she said of her long service in the government. As a politician, she said she was aware that the time to retire could come any time and every time a general election was held. Rafidah said she was proud of having served the government for 32 years and with integrity and accountability. However, the Wanita Umno head said she was sad that for the first time, the movement was not being represented in the Cabinet. Asked whether Wanita Umno would make an official protest for not having its representative in the Cabinet, Rafidah said: “No need for a protest. Otherwise, people will say I am going after the position.” She said she would not retire from politics for as long as her services were required. “I am not going to retire from politics because I am not self-appointed. As long as the (Umno) women want me, I will continue to be active in politics,” she clarified at the press conference called by her to douse speculations that she wanted to quit as Wanita Umno leader in protest of her being dropped from the cabinet line-up. Rafidah called on Wanita Umno members to stay calm and accept the prime minister’s decision with an open mind, and to continue to work together in supporting and strengthening Umno. She also suggested that the Barisan Nasional and Umno reevaluated their reach to the people, especially at the party grassroots’ level based on the result of the last election. – BERNAMA