To his credit, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has resisted Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's intense and not-too-subtle pressure to name his (Abdullah's) deputy. Mahathir has made it all too clear that he prefers current Defence Minster Najib Tun Razak to be that person.

Abdullah is wise to ignore Mahathir. He should go further and bypass completely the next generation of Umno leaders. They are all cut from the same cloth, having been weaned on "money politics." Instead Abdullah should go directly to the younger set.

Unfortunately as Mahathir has neglected talent development in the party, there will be slim pickings. Abdullah would be better off to select someone from his generation to be his deputy, and together they should develop the next crop of leaders. That should be their top joint priority.

Abdullah should do what George Bush Jr did in picking Richard Cheney as his running mate. By doing so Bush acknowledged his limitations. The experienced Cheney, by reasons of age and health, cannot possibly succeed or challenge Bush.