Umno's top leadership had in place a succession formula shortly before Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced the appointment of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, one of the Umno vice-presidents, as his deputy in 1999, malaysiakini learned today.

The formula was forged between Mahathir and the three vice-presidents — Abdullah, Najib Tun Razak and Muhammad Muhd Taib — after Anwar Ibrahim was dismissed as deputy premier and deputy Umno president in 1998 for corruption and sexual misconduct.

The agreement was that Najib, the Umno vice-president with the highest votes, would be next in line after Abdullah replaces Mahathir as party president and prime minister.

Although Najib secured the highest votes for the post in the 1993 and 1996 party elections, it was felt at that point in time Abdullah was the "best" candidate for deputy prime minister.

Deemed necessary

Malaysiakini was also told that details of the agreement are common knowledge among the other two Umno vice-presidents. The agreement was deemed necessary to limit political casualties following Anwar's dismissal.

However, Muhyiddin was not part of the arrangement as he was only elected vice-president in the 2000 party election, after Abdullah's elevation to deputy president the same year.

On June 22, Mahathir announced his retirement from Umno and Barisan Nasional during his closing speech at the Umno general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

He later named Abdullah as the next Umno president and the fifth prime minister when the 16-month transition period ends in October next year.

That sparked speculation on who among the three Umno vice-presidents would be appointed as Abdullah's deputy in the party and the government. Mahathir has since openly voiced his preference for Najib, though he said that Abdullah has the right to appoint his deputy.

Although it has become a tradition within Umno for the party president to choose one of the vice-presidents as his deputy, Mahathir has explained that his statement that Najib is the most suitable candidate for the number two post was to prevent a struggle for top party posts.

However, his statement was seen as trying to pre-empt Abdullah on the appointment of the latter's deputy and this has sparked talk that there was already an arrangement on the leadership succession formula in 1999 when Mahathir wanted to appoint Abdullah as his deputy.