MALAYSIA's Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, 46, was yesterday appointed Deputy Prime Minister in a promotion that puts him first in line to succeed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
An announcement from the Prime Minister's Office said Mr Anwar would retain the finance portfolio.
He succeeds Ghafar Baba, 68, who resigned in October as deputy prime minister and deputy president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the main government party.
The party deputy president has traditionally become deputy prime minister.
UMNO's General Assembly formally installed Mr Anwar as deputy president and acknowledged heir apparent to Dr Mahathir on November 4, but he has had to wait four weeks before taking over as Deputy Prime Minister.
Analysts had speculated that Dr Mahathir delayed the appointment to demonstrate that he was still firmly in charge, following the General Assembly's endorsement not only of Mr Anwar but of a large number of his associates, known as the ''Vision Team'', which put the deputy president in virtual control of the party.
