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KUALA LUMPUR: Now that Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has confirmed that he will step down next March, all eyes are on how the new administration under Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak will take shape.
Najib has officially announced his candidacy for UMNO president and at least five UMNO leaders are offering to be his Number Two.
Officially throwing his hat in the ring on Friday is International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is the hot favourite.
"I work very well and I have a good working relationship with him. I understand his thinking," Muhyiddin said.
The 61-year-old - who is counting on the support of UMNO divisions in the southern and central states of Johore, Pahang and Selangor - will be the deputy premier if he wins the race.
Analysts have predicted that a Najib-Muhyiddin team will see the return of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who quit the party last June.
"Let's take one step at a time. If they think they can contribute in terms of nation building and national unity, bring back the people into the folds of UMNO. They will definitely be most welcomed," said Muhyiddin. But other party leaders disagree with that view.
Khairy Jamaluddin, deputy youth chief, UMNO, said: "The last thing this country needs is to return to Mahathirism. That's not what this country needs, that's not what the people want, regardless of what some people say."
Khairy, who is the son-in-law of PM Abdullah, is vying for the hotly contested post of UMNO youth chief against arch rival Mukhriz Mahathir.
Meanwhile, the imminent departure of the prime minister has raised concerns among some quarters, especially the legal profession and civil rights groups who fear a rollback of his reforms.
With the political uncertainty that has been plaguing the ruling party appearing to be out of the way, Malaysians are hoping that the top leadership can now focus on broader economic issues, particularly on how to keep the contagion effect from the global financial meltdown from spreading to its shore.
- CNA/so
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