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By SEAN YOONG KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's leader announced Friday he has struck a deal on when to hand power to his deputy, as pressure for him to resign intensified from public anger over rising fuel prices.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi refused to reveal exactly when he will let his deputy, Najib Razak, succeed him, though he has repeatedly insisted he would remain in office beyond the end of 2008. "Najib and I have decided on the right time for me to hand over the premiership to him," the national news agency Bernama quoted Abdullah as saying in a speech to government supporters in eastern Malaysia. An aide confirmed the report. Abdullah's governing coalition was plunged into disarray after it retained power with only a simple majority in March elections. For only the second time since 1957, it lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority. It also surrendered control of five states for the first time. Abdullah's critics have since demanded his resignation, accusing him of making numerous policy blunders and allowing problems such as corruption and racial disputes to fester. Abdullah has suffered further public criticism after raising retail gasoline prices by 41 percent last week. More than 1,000 people marched in Malaysia's main city Friday in the biggest protest so far against the price hike, calling for Abdullah to step down. Najib has stood by Abdullah and pledged not to challenge him for power. Nevertheless, political observers speculate that Abdullah risks losing power if other rivals challenge his presidency of the ruling party in December. Abdullah, who took office in 2003, also faces a threat from the opposition, which claims it has the secret support of enough ruling coalition lawmakers to bring down the government. Abdullah insisted Friday the government "can recover and return to our original strength." "There are times we lose some seats, and currently many people are angry, but this will not be forever," Abdullah said. "If you have already surrendered, there's no point in fighting on. Just wait to die."
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