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Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ceded the key finance ministry post to his powerful deputy on Wednesday and hinted he may leave office before an agreed date of 2010.
Abdullah faces a resurgent opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim, which says it has won over sufficient government MPs to take power. The prime minister again dismissed that claim and said he had no plans to meet Anwar, who he accused of sabotaging foreign investment in Malaysia.
"I see he (Anwar) is a threat to the economy and probably security," Abdullah told a press conference to announce Najib's new portfolio.
Najib's appointment to the finance ministry post, which has been held by the prime minister since ex-prime minister Mahathir Mohammed sacked Anwar in the late 1990s, was seen as indicating that Abdullah may accelerate his departure from office.
He had already agreed to hand over to Najib in 2010, two years ahead of the next elections in 2013, but has come under pressure from some top officials in his party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) to step aside earlier.
"I would not be staying longer than 2010. It will be more flexible, if I want to go earlier I will tell Najib," Abdullah said.
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