Ruling party begins grassroots talks to decide Badawi's fate

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KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 17 (AP) : Malaysia's ruling party launched a first round of meetings Thursday to determine whether it will keep Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as party chief after recentelectoral losses.

About 19,000 branches in the United Malays National Organisation party are slated to hold meetings through next month to discuss preparations for the party's congress in December, when Abdullah intends to defend his party presidency.

"Members need to find a way to stand united to ensure the party remains relevant," said Ahmad Faizal Mohamad Anuar, a party branch leader in central Selangor state. The July-August party meetings will be watched for signs of whether members support Abdullah's re-election as party president, and his plan to hand over power to his deputy, Najib Razak, in mid-2010 in a transition that some officials insist should be faster.

Elections for UMNO president are held every three years, and the winner traditionally becomes the country's prime minister. But the party president can also hand over the job at midterm to a chosen successor who then has to seek re-election.