Thesun 2008-11-03 Page01: It's Najib Uncontested

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No. 4630 PP 2644/12/2008 (020369)

Monday TELLING IT AS IT IS

Security stepped up in Bali as executions imminent DENPASAR (Indonesia): Police have stepped up security in the tourist areas of Bali as the execution of the three Bali bombers appears to be imminent. At the same time, Australia has told its citizens to reconsider their travel plans, and Americans have been told to “keep a low profile”. Imam Samudra, 38, Mukhlas, 48, and Amrozi, 46, three militants from the Jemaah Islamiah, were sentenced to death for their role in bomb attacks on two nightclubs in Kuta in 2002 which killed 202 people. On Saturday, the attorney-general’s office said the execution time for the three men, who have been on death row since 2003, was “very close”. Major hotels in Jakarta already have fairly tight security, and there were few signs of increased security over the weekend. But security has been increased in some parts of the country, including Bali and parts of Java, particularly around the prison where the Bali bombers are being held. “We have increased the security in the main tourist sites like Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Dua,” said Sri Harmiti, spokeswoman for the Bali police, adding that police are carrying out checks of cars and motorcycles and have stepped up security in the ports. About 3,000 police, including dog handlers, bomb experts and traffic police are involved in the security operation on Bali. Of the 202 people killed in the bombings, 88 were Australians. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith urged Australians yesterday to reconsider travel plans to Indonesia. He said that if they insisted on travelling there, they should stay clear of places that could be targeted for attack. The US has also warned its citizens in Indonesia to “maintain a low profile” and avoid demonstrations. – Agencies

November 3, 2008 www.sun2surf.com

Remembering Pavarotti pg24

It’s Najib uncontested

HE PICKS UP 138TH NOMINATION FOR UMNO PRESIDENCY; NO ONE ELSE CAN QUALIFY

PETALING JAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak won the Umno presidency uncontested after garnering 138 nominations yesterday evening. The prime minister-designate picked up his 138th nomination from the 191 Umno divisions to leave his rival candidate Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah unable to get the minimum 58 nominations required to qualify for the contest. Razaleigh has picked up only

one nomination from his Gua Musang division after two-thirds of the divisions have met to make their nominations for key posts in the March party elections. Najib, who is the Umno deputy president and the deputy prime minister, will be officially declared the new Umno president at the party general assembly scheduled for March 24 to 28. Yesterday’s nominations

to win the Umno presidency unopposed, he expressed his resolve to shoulder the trust placed in him by the Umno grassroots. He said he believed the nominations reflected the desire for and confidence of the grassroots in the transition plan he had agreed to with prime minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. “I resolve to shoulder this trust and responsibility to the best of my ability to tackle all the challenges faced by Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN). for Najib came from Batu Kawan, “I am thankful for and touched Tawau, Silam, Keningau, Teluk by the trust which has been Kemang, Tampin, Puchong, Sekijang, translated into nominations by Ayer Hitam, Kulim-Bandar Baru, the 134 divisions which have held Tanjung Malim, Segamat, Bentong, their meetings so far, signalling my Kapar, Kota Raja, Muar, Indera victory unopposed as the president Mahkota, Klang, Cameron Highlands, of Umno,” he said in his 1Malaysia. Teluk Intan, Balik Pulau, Labuan, com.my website. Kota Belud, Kuala Pilah and Pandan. Najib said he hoped that the Earlier, when Najib secured ongoing election process would 134 nominations proceed in a clean and orderly manner. “Let’s work together to carry forward the noble struggle for the sake of religion, the people and nation,” he said. In the race for No. 2, frontrunner and vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has raised his nominations to 79, with his closest rival, Malacca Chief Minister and vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, yet to

» Turn to Page 6 Hunters’ cheer

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articipants at theSun Motor Hunt 2008 wave as they prepare for the flag-off yesterday. More than 1,000 hunters in 275 cars took part in the popular hunt, which entered its fifth year, yesterday. See Pages 8&9