KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Penang and Kelantan Umno have thrown their support behind the power transition plan in which Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would hand over the party leadership to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in 2010.

Penang Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah announced yesterday that all the divisions and wings in the state have pledged to nominate Abdullah and Najib for the party president and deputy president's posts respectively.

"Today we reiterate the pledge made when the plan was first announced. We gave our full support then and we will continue to do so when the divisions convene for their AGMs between Oct 9 and Nov 9.

"The decision is unanimous. We believe that the transition plan was made with sincerity, so we hope that it (the plan) will get similar support and respect nationwide," he said.

The pledge was made to Abdullah at the state Umno liaison committee closed-door meeting at Menara Umno in George Town.

Kelantan Umno chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the state Umno liaison committee meeting, which was attended by almost all division chiefs, was unanimous in accepting Abdullah's transition plan.

Gua Musang Umno head Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who had an-nounced his intention to contest for the Umno presidency, was absent at the meeting in Kota Baru. Annuar said Kelantan Umno would continue to support the Abdullah-Najib leadership so that the power transition would take place smoothly.

"We want Najib to take over the leadership when Umno is strong."