Although premier-in-waiting Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has yet to name his would-be deputy, many quarters in Umno agree that vice-president Najib Razak would be his best choice in order for the former to strengthen his position in the party at all levels.

Najib is known to have a concrete and well-organised network of support at divisional levels, especially in the Youth wing.

Najib's network

"As a vice-president in-charge of party membership, Najib ( photo ) has fully utilised this opportunity to further strengthen his position," said a source close to both leaders.

He said Abdullah would be able to use Najib's network of supporters to strengthen his own position in the party.

"If Abdullah selects a different candidate, then there is the fear that Najib's supporters would oppose that person in the coming party election," said the source who declined to be named.

"This could possibly lead to competition for all top party posts, including that of the president and deputy president."

This had happened in 1987 when Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah challenged Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the party presidency. The split in the party led to Umno being declared illegal by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Mahathir then formed Umno Baru (New Umno) while Tengku Razaleigh started a new party - Semangat 46 ( Spirit of 46), with the figure 46 denoting the year Umno was formed.

In the 1990 general election, Semangat 46 initiated an opposition pact with PAS and other smaller Malay/Muslim parties to form the People's Solidarity Front (APU) and wrested Kelantan from Barisan Nasional (BN).

Although Tengku Razaleigh ( photo ) later dissolved his party and rejoined Umno, BN has been unable to recapture Kelantan from PAS.

In fact, the ruling coalition also lost neighbouring Terengganu to PAS after the latter formed a political pact known as Barisan Alternatif, with Keadilan, Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) and DAP in the 1999 general election

In view of this, many Umno leaders hope that Abdullah and other top brass in the party would be mindful of the implications of their decisions in determining Umno's future leadership after Mahathir retires in October.

Other contenders

Compared to Najib - whose father Abdul Razak was the country's second prime minister - the other two vice-presidents lack widespread support in the party.

A senior party leader said vice-president MuhyiddinYassin ( photo ) does not have a strong network of supporters at the grassroots.

"(Another vice-president and former Selangor Menteri Besar) Muhammad Muhd Taib does not hold any government post and still has to overcome a political hurdle to determine whether he will be well-received by the public by contesting in the coming general election," the source said.

Muhammad Taib ( photo ) was caught with RM2.4 million cash at an Australian airport in1996 and later charged for failing to declare his assets to the Anti-Corruption Agency here. He has since been acquitted of both charges.

On rumours that de facto Law Minister Rais Yatim is also o­n the list of candidates for the deputy's post, an Umno division leader said this speculation should not arise.

"Although Rais has been Abdullah's close friend, especially during the 1987 party turmoil, Rais then chose to join Razaleigh's Semangat 46, whereas Abdullah returned to Mahathir's Umno Baru," he said.

"This shows that although they are close, Abdullah and Rais ( photo ) have different political views. What Abdullah needs is not a close friend, but a strong leader for him to lean o­n.

"The fact is, since becoming deputy prime minister and deputy Umno president, Abdullah has enjoyed Dr Mahathir's support. After the premier retires, Najib would be Abdullah's best choice," he added.

On the possibility of Abdullah appointing a deputy who is not a current vice-president, he said this would set an unhealthy precedent.

Abdullah's supporters said, however, that the choice - of Najib - has already been made.

"He o­nly wants to announce the appointment after officially taking over the party and the government from Dr Mahathir," said a source.

But observers warned that as long as Abdullah remains silent about his deputy, speculation will continue and this could prove detrimental to the party's interests in the long run.