Premier-in-waiting Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will have an opportunity to silence his critics as he leads the ruling party in two upcoming by-elections, analysts said today.

Abdullah, who will take over as prime minister when Dr Mahathir Mohamad retires late next year, was elected committee head for the by-elections for parliamentary and state assembly seats in Kedah.

The seats fell vacant with the death of PAS leader Fadzil Noor last Sunday. No date has yet been set for the elections, but they are expected within two months.

Abdullah, 62, whose ability to fill the shoes of his mentor has been questioned, will face a "crucial test to prove that he can really lead the country," said political analyst P Ramasamy.

Ramasamy said the outcome of the by-elections would also be a strong indication of Abdullah's ability to head the ruling Umno in a fight for Malay support against the hardline Islamic PAS.

"If Umno wins, that would certainly boost Abdullah in convincing the world that he may be more than meets the eye," he said.

However, other analysts said the true test would come in the country's general elections which have to be called before November 2004.

Not real test

Michael Yeoh, chief executive from the Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute, said support for Abdullah would not be affected by the outcome of the by-elections, adding that the veteran politician had already been spearheading by-elections over the last two years.

"This is not going to be a real test, because he's been doing it for a long time.

"But of course, if Umno wins, it'll be an extra for him politically," he said.

Ramasamy told AFP that the world was eager to evaluate Abdullah's leadership skills, adding that the current deputy prime minister's appointment had come with high expectations.

"Right now he cannot make any decisions or comments, but there are expectations that he will resolve the Anwar issue when he has come to power," said Ramasamy.

Anwar Ibrahim was sacked by Mahathir as deputy premier on September 2, 1998 on grounds of immorality and is now serving 15 years in jail after being convicted for abuse of power and sodomy. He says he was framed, and is considered a political prisoner by the United States.

Abdullah had yet to show his true colours, Ramasamy said, as he had always acted under the leadership of Mahathir.

"He might be a nice guy, free from controversy, and not seen as leading factions, but the real test is after he takes over.

"Now he has to tread very, very carefully because he is a man who has no power.

"Once he obtains his power, he can make his mark and we will see what kind of leader he really is," he said. -AFP