Abdullah's second man still unknown<\/p>\n
Eileen Ng, Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Deputy Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was firmly entrenched on
\nWednesday as Malaysia's new leader from October 2003 but this has
\nthrown open a new issue: who will be his number two?<\/p>\n
Malaysians are looking for clues as to who will be the new
\nsecond-in-command and next in line to the premiership after
\ncoming to terms with the shock resignation of Prime Minister
\nMahathir Mohamad after 21 years at the helm.<\/p>\n
Mahathir, upon his return home from a 10-day holiday early
\nWednesday, pledged his full support for Abdullah as his successor
\nand said he would ensure there was no power tussle for the number
\ntwo post.<\/p>\n
Officials say the mild-mannered Abdullah, 62, whose ability to
\nfill the shoes of his mentor has been questioned, has the
\nprerogative to pick anyone he desires to be his deputy.<\/p>\n
But he may not have a chance to exercise his power as UMNO is
\ndue to hold triennial leadership polls in June next year.<\/p>\n
Many observers however, believe that the party polls may be
\npostponed to make way for a snap general election before Mahathir
\nsteps down, although it is not due until late 2004.<\/p>\n
Strong contenders for the number two post are the three
\ncurrent UMNO vice presidents -- Defense Minister Najib Razak,
\nDomestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Mohamad
\nYassin and Muhammad Muhammad Taib.<\/p>\n
Many see Najib as the frontrunner after being passed over by
\nMahathir, who picked Abdullah as his deputy following the sacking
\nand jailing of Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.<\/p>\n
The 48-year-old Najib, who as the son of Malaysia's second
\nprime minister has a headstart over the others, won the highest
\nnumber of votes during 2000 party polls among the three UMNO vice
\npresidents.<\/p>\n
Analysts said Najib's appointment would help Abdullah keep a
\nlid on party unity and establish his control over UMNO by
\nreducing the prospects of internal convulsion.<\/p>\n
\"Who becomes deputy is crucial as it is the stepping stone to
\nthe presidency and Abdullah is seen as an interim transitional
\nleader,\" an Asian diplomat told AFP.<\/p>\n
\"Najib is the best suited man for the job for the sake of
\nparty unity. The general assessment is that Najib's boys will not
\nlet things lie if he is passed over again for the number two
\npost.\"<\/p>",
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