We all agree that it is reasonable for Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to cancel his visit to the Middle East as the newly appointed Minister of Finance was busy with his duties.

Najib cancelled his trip to the United States for the UN General Assembly Thursday (25 Sept) giving the official reason that he is still busy with his new Finance Ministry's duties.

However, the people have smelled something different. The trip has significant meanings to Najib. He was scheduled to give his maiden speech at the General Assembly. He will attend the meeting as the successor and it will help in domestically and internationally establishing his status as the next Prime Minister.

It is certainly something very important that made him cancel the trip. And now, what would be more important than UMNO's power transition plan?

The question is, Abdullah and Najib have repeatedly reaffirmed that the plan remains unchanged and the transition period will be in 2010.

We have no reason to doubt their sincerity.

For Abdullah, he believes that he needs two years to repair his image and to complete his policies. As for Najib, it may be a good thing to have a transition period and allow existing disputes and conflicts to be settled.

In the last secret talk between them, Abdullah and Najib have made two major decisions. One of them was to exchange their ministerial positions, and another would be to reaffirm the power transition plan.

When the people think that everything is settled, it is not the case within UMNO.

So far, only Penang and Kelantan UMNO have shown their support for the plan. It is understood that other state UMNO members are having different views and a lot of them are actually opposed to the plan.

UMNO vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin's attitude is tough, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed his support for Gua Musang UMNO Division Chief Tengku Razaleigh, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal want the two top positions in UMNO to be contested while the stand of Wanita UMNO chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein are clear.

Some of UMNO grass-root members prefers Abdullah to handover power to Najib before the party elections while some think he two top positions in UMNO should be contested.

All these showed that the power transition plan is quite vulnerable. Although Abdullah is sustaining hard, the situation is still precarious.

Najib and UMNO management committee members, including Muhyiddin, Hishammuddin, Rafidah, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib held a meeting Wednesday. It is believed that they were discussing on the power transition plan and have made a major decision. This most likely led to the Special UMNO Supreme Council Meeting Friday (26 sept).

It is said that the meeting will discuss on whether to postpone the party elections from end of this year to the middle of next year, so Abdullah can honourably retire.

Perhaps, this is the ultimate plan meant to avoid split within UMNO. However, would Pak Lah, who never gives up; Najib, who has amazing endurance and other ambitious party members accept this? (By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/Sin Chew Daily)