exclusive Ex-Umno politician Abdullah Ahmad said he was taking a big risk by his open support for Najib Abdul Razak as the new deputy prime minister because the then party vice-president was the best available candidate for the job.

"I supported him because he is the best of the present lot... But I took a big risk...," said Abdullah, who was unceremoniously axed as the Umno-controlled New Straits Times editor-in-chief last November.