Badawi named NEAC deputy chairman

Badawi named NEAC deputy chairman

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's new deputy prime minister was
named deputy chairman of the country's National Economic Action
Council, the group said on Wednesday.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is also now a member of NEAC's executive
committee, the council said in a statement.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad named Abdullah his deputy last
week, filling a spot that was vacated when Anwar Ibrahim was
fired Sept. 2. Anwar, who is now on trial for sex and corruption
charges, was also finance minister and deputy chairman of the
NEAC.

The NEAC was established in late 1997 to tackle the nation's
growing economic turmoil. Mahathir is chairman of the council.