While official sources contacted by malaysiakini have refused to confirm or deny the appointment of Najib Abdul Razak as deputy premier, well-placed persons are expecting an offical announcement tomorrow.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who took over from Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Oct 31, has thus far refused to reveal on who will be his choice for the deputy's post although many have expected that the post will eventually be assumed by Najib.

It has been said that Najib will be taking oath before his cabinet colleagues at the weekly cabinet meeting. Abdullah is calling a press conference at 1.30pm.

Timing is ripe

Political commentators say that the timing of such an appointment was ripe.

"Abdullah will soon be leaving on an Asean tour beginning this Thursday. He would want the regional leaders to note that Malaysia, after Mahathir, is in capable hands," said an analyst.

"He would not want these leaders to question on why he has not chosen his deputy yet," Abdullah kicks off his Asean tour with a visit to Indonesia on Thursday, followed by trips to Singapore and Thailand next week.

He is expected to visit the other Asean countries in the days that follow.

The post of deputy prime minister carries more weight in Malaysia than in many other countries as the incumbent is seen as heir-apparent to the premiership.

Abdullah had been Dr Mahathir Mohamad's deputy since 1998, when he replaced Anwar Ibrahim, who was sacked and jailed on corruption and sex charges.

Marginal constituency

Najib, 50, is the son of the country's second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein and the most senior vice-president of Umno.

He entered politics at the age of 23, winning the Pekan parliamentary seat which his father had held until his death in 1976.

In the 1999 general election, he retained the seat by a wafer-thin 241 majority out of the 26,055 votes cast.

Najib held several deputy ministerial posts before being appointed chief minister of the central Pahang state in 1982.

Four years later he became culture, youth and sports minister. He was appointed defence minister in 1990, education minister in 1995, and returned to the defence portfolio again in 1999.

Najib completed his education in Britain, first at Malvern Boys College in Worcestershire and then at Nottingham University where he took a degree in industrial economics.

He is married to Rosmah Manor and has five children.