Opposition's Allegation On Not Being Invited To Meeting Unfounded - PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the allegation that the opposition leaders were not invited to the recent Meeting of Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers should not arise as it was a normal practise and did not contravene the Federal Constitution.

He said the meeting, which was held two days ago, was a coordination meeting between the federal and state governments and was limited to menteris besar and chief ministers of Barisan Nasional states.

"We have a stand that all meetings which the Federal Constitution requires the participation of states, we will invite menteris besar and chief ministers of opposition states like National Land Council and local councils' meetings and those involving certain financial committees.

"As such, the question of invitation should not arise...they (opposition states) also have many meetings which they don't invite us, this also they want to complaint," he told a press conference after chairing Umno Supreme Council (MT) meeting here Friday night.

Najib was commenting on the Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's remarks expressing disappointment for not being invited to the 114th Meeting of Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers chaired by Najib on Tuesday.

On today's MT meeting, Najib said it decided that Umno branches annual meetings for this year would be held from April 1 to 15 while divisional annual meetings from July 1 to Sept 15.

He also announced that Umno's 66th anniversary celebration would be held at Stadium Merdeka on May 11.

He said Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who would also be the organising chairman of the celebration, would be furnishing more details on it.

At the meeting, Najib also announced that Umno's membership as of Dec 31 2001 had increased by 113,116, bringing the total to 3,335,878.

On calls for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry on the illegal immigrants problem in Sabah, Najib said the matter was being considered by the government.