Najib says it again: Umno AGM on Dec 5

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today reaffirmed that the Umno general assembly will take place on Dec 5 as scheduled.

This announcement would mean that it is less likely that a general election would be called this year. BN's mandate ends in the middle of next year.

"The general assembly is confirmed for Dec 5. We will ensure that the assembly is a, God willing, meriah (jovial) affair which will be well received," he said.

Najib was speaking to reporters after chairing the monthly Umno supreme council meeting at the party headquarters.

Meanwhile, Najib said the government will make an announcement regarding the status of tahfiz schools during the tabling of Budget 2018.

"(The Umno supreme council) takes note of the tragic incident involving a fire at Kampung Datuk Keramat.

"Therefore, the government will make an announcement regarding the status of tahfiz schools in the country," he said.

Tahfiz schools, where children learn to recite the Quran from memory, are not regulated by the federal government.

There have been increased calls for accountability following the fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Tahfiz in Kuala Lumpur which claimed 23 lives.

Two youths have been charged for setting fire to the school.- Mkini