Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has expressed fears of a potential power struggle in Malaysia's ruling party after he retires in October, a newspaper reported yesterday.
His comments come ahead of a crucial week for the ruling United Malays National Organization, which is set to hold its annual congress amid much debate over how politics will evolve following Mahathir's 22-year rule.
Mahathir, who is UMNO's president, warned that candidates might jostle for key party posts after he steps down, but no one would likely challenge his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who he has picked as his successor.
"What I'm afraid of is a [power] struggle," Mahathir said in an interview with the Utusan Malaysia newspaper. "I don't think [Abdullah] will be challenged, but there will be a struggle on other levels."
"The No. 2 position in UMNO has not been settled, so there will be a bit of a struggle for the No. 2 position," Mahathir was quoted as saying in a transcript of the interview published by the newspaper.
UMNO, which has formed the core of every government since independence from Britain in 1957, leads a coalition that includes parties representing minorities.
The contest for president and deputy president of UMNO is crucial because the incumbents traditionally hold the top two government posts. But party polls will not be held until after Mahathir retires, so Abdullah has a free hand to select a deputy before then.
Potential front-runners for the deputy's post include Defense Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin, the domestic trade minister.
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