The main opposition Islamic Party (PAS), which competes with Umno for the votes of the Malay Muslim majority, saw the appointment of Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak as deputy prime minister as marking the start of the run-up to elections.

"The announcement indicates that a general election is round the corner - within three months I think," said PAS lawmaker Mahfuz Omar.

He said the naming of Najib showed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was "a puppet to Mahathir (Mohamad)", but secretary-general of the ethnic-Chinese-based opposition Democratic Action Party Kerk Kim Hock said Najib was "the obvious choice".

"He is qualified for the post and he is a moderate Muslim."

The other Umno heavyweight in the running was Muhyiddin Yassin, like Najib a party vice-president. He has been moved to the influential Agriculture Ministry from domestic trade and consumer affairs in a minor cabinet reshuffle announced today.

Both men had pledged to abide by Abdullah's decision without rocking the party boat.

Right man for the job

The appointment of Najib as deputy prime minister today ends months of speculation since Abdullah took over from Mahathir on Oct 31 when he retired after 22 years in power.

Mahathir made it clear he thought Najib was the right man for the job, but Abdullah kept the country waiting, apparently consolidating his power within the ruling Umno before announcing his decision at a news conference in Putrajaya.

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 premier.

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

However, while Umno is expected to easily win enough seats in the election to remain the key party within the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, any significant loss of support to PAS could lead to a challenge to Abdullah for the Umno leadership.

The New Straits Times, which often reflects government thinking, said Abdullah had delayed naming his deputy until he had put his key policy initiatives in place and assured himself that Najib would work closely with him to implement them.

Those initiatives include cracking down on corruption and moving away from the grandiose projects of the Mahathir era while making agriculture a major economic powerhouse.

Son of former PM

Najib, 50, who is retaining his defence ministry portfolio, 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 Pahang 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. - AFP