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.