Newly-installed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is unlikely to unveil his new cabinet this week, said a close aide.

"He will make an announcement when he is ready," said the aide who declined to comment on whether Abdullah would hold onto the two posts of finance minister and home minister.

Abdullah took over the powerful finance ministry post left vacant by his precedessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad who retired after 22 years in office.

"As of Friday, he is finance minister on the basis that he has taken over all the posts that Dr Mahathir left behind. He is also home minister," the aide told AFP.

Another source said the move by Abdullah was normal procedure to temporarily fill the gap until a new cabinet line-up is announced.

But the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) queried in a statement whether it was a "sign of political strength or political weakness."

Abdullah's decision to take over the Finance Ministry "because of its importance as well as power of patronage has not come as a surprise" but his move to also retain the Home Ministry in charge of police has raised eyebrows, said DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang.

"The only reason why Abdullah has made the unprecedented decision to helm the two important ministries of finance and home affairs is that after 16 months of nominations he could not decide who to appoint because of the implications of such a senior ministerial appointments in terms of political succession," Lim said.

Abdullah's deputy?

Malaysia's political and business communities have been waiting for months to see who Abdullah will pick as his deputy, a post seen as next-in-line to the premiership, as well as finance minister.

Prior to his retirement, Mahathir endorsed Defence Minister Najib Razak as deputy premier but Abdullah has refused to give any indication of who he wants as his number two and there is speculation he will not name a deputy until after general elections.

Elections are not due until late 2004, but Abdullah signalled over the weekend that polls could be called early as he seeks to win his own mandate from voters.

Abdullah earlier today clocked in for the first time at the PM's office before delivering an emotional maiden address to parliamentary where he pledged to crack down on government corruption and abuse of power. - AFP