Had Adenan Satem, the 63-year-old veteran Sarawak politician, been too presumptuous and impatient?

This is how some members of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) feel about their senior vice-president, who suddenly resigned as federal natural resources and environment minister in order to play a more active role in Sarawak politics.

His 'leader and mentor' Abdul Taib Mahmud,69, who has been chief minister for a quarter of a century, might have told him privately that he (Adenan) would one day succeed him.

But Taib - the PBB president and state Barisan Nasional chief - has never, as far as memory serves, publicly named his former brother-in-law as his eventual successor.

In private circles, Taib could have mentioned this to his confidantes and this would explain why in the past two to three years, a number of PBB's younger leaders have been gravitating towards Adenan

Even the now-suspended Sarawak Tribune was directed to give him as much publicity as possible at the expense of PBB deputy president Abang Johari Tun Openg - another possible contender for the chief minister post.

Bury the hatchet

The question now is whether Taib has changed his mind about Adenan?

Many have been asking this following the chief minister's speech over the weekend, his first public address since a major surgery recently.

Taib fuelled the rumour mills when he remarked that he would step down when an able team is in place to take over the leadership.

Throughout the speech, he made no mention of Adenan although the latter and his wife, Jamilah Anu, were present at the Saturday event.

"It is quite clear that he does not want any of the PBB leaders excluded when a new team takes over," remarked a political observer who declined to be named.

"This is no doubt a clear reference to the problems within the party over the succession issue and that he wants the rivals bidding for positions to work together before he would hand over his responsibilities to his successor," he added.

It is common knowledge that there is intense rivalry between Adenan and Abang Johari ( right ), which has given rise to factionalism in the party.

In other words, Taib is now telling the rival groups to bury the hatchet and as long as they don't do this, he cannot step aside.

The test will probably come sooner than expected.

No-contest formula

There is now talk that instead of waiting after the state elections (which must be held before Nov 16), the PBB president may opt to hold the party polls before the state polls and propose a no-contest formula for all top posts.

If agreed to, this would smoothen the transition process.

However, if Taib decides to hold the party polls after the state elections, he could still propose a similar formula by ensuring that he would be around as chief minister to ensure a smooth transition and leadership change in both the party and government.

What is almost certain now is contrary to what many had speculated: that newly appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Effendi Norwawi - the 58-year-old PBB vice-president - is also in the running for the chief minister's post.

This goes back to Taib's original plan - to have Johari, Adenan and Effendi prove themselves before he picks one of them to succeed him.. Johari and Effendi who are below 60 can wait.

But how long can Adenan, who is only six years younger than Taib?

Tony Thien is malaysiakini 's correspondent in Sarawak.