Malaysia's prime minister is to accelerate his departure from office, but his failure to set a date leaves a lame duck in charge at a time when his coalition is in disarray and the opposition is claiming power. At the same time, Malaysia's economic growth is slowing, inflation is at a 27-year high and much-needed reforms promised by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi have not been done. The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the biggest party in the coalition that has ruled Malaysia for 51 years, agreed on Friday to delay to March from December a leadership vote that could have seen Abdullah defeated. But Abdullah declined to say whether he would quit on that date or run in the party poll. The premier had already said he would quit before the next election, which must be held by 2013, saying he would cede power to his deputy Najib Razak in 2010. “He's buying time, but I don't think he will be able to push for reforms in the meantime,” said one diplomat based in Kuala Lumpur who spoke on condition of anonymity. “UMNO won't allow him to do that.” UMNO and the Barisan Nasional coalition it heads are for the first time facing the prospect of losing power to a re-energised opposition alliance led by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim. Abdullah has come under increasing pressure to quit since Barisan stumbled to its worst election result in March this year when it lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority. Najib, 55, has an impeccable political heritage. He is the son of Malaysia's second prime minister and the nephew of its third. He also holds the powerful finance ministry portfolio.
