Pressure mounts in Malaysia

Pressure mounts in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Former finance minister Razaleigh
Hamzah faced mounting pressure on Wednesday to declare whether he
planned to defy party elders and run for a leadership post in
Malaysia's dominant party.

Razaleigh, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's former arch-
rival, has been considering challenging either Mahathir or Deputy
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in the leadership polls of
the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) in May.

The stakes are high because the UMNO president traditionally
serves as prime minister and the deputy as deputy prime minister.

As Mahathir's deputy, Abdullah wears the mantle as the
74-year-old leader's heir apparent. But he has never been elected
UMNO deputy president as he only assumed the duties after
Mahathir fired Abdullah's predecessor, Anwar Ibrahim.