'This is because in the view of the (party) president and myself, this is the best way for us to revive Umno for the next general election,' he said in an interview with the Mingguan Malaysia newspaper.

There has been rumblings from the Umno ground that the two-year wait is too long.

Minister of International Trade and Industry Muhyiddin Yassin, who is an Umno vice-president, was the highest-ranking leader to say so.

Yesterday, Tan Sri Muhyiddin asked Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to give Datuk Seri Najib more responsibilities to restore faith in the government and 'make the international community confident in the future prime minister'.

Other divisional leaders have expressed similar views.

Last week, Datuk Seri Abdullah announced that he would step down in June 2010, handing over the Umno presidency to Mr Najib.

By tradition, Umno's president is also the prime minister of Malaysia.

Mr Najib said the decision was taken to serve the party's interest.

'With this agreement, we will avoid a clash at the highest levels of the party that will bring serious consequences,' he said.

He said he merely asked for enough time to prepare for the next general election, which is due in 2013.

Mr Abdullah's decision was aimed at easing the pressure on him to take responsibility for the crushing losses suffered by the Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition in the March 8 polls.

He announced his decision just before Umno branches begin their annual meetings on Thursday, marking the start of a process to nominate candidates for the top party posts.

The party's leadership has not banned a contest, but the move is clearly aimed at stitching up the nominations for Mr Abdullah and Mr Najib for the two top posts.

Leaders need at least 58 of the 191 divisions to nominate them to stand for Umno president during the party elections in December.

There is still a possibility, although perhaps more remote now, that the divisions will still nominate Mr Najib for the top job, or pick Mr Muhyiddin or Kelantan prince Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who has declared that he will challenge Mr Abdullah. Five states have indicated that they would tow the line.

Critics believe that the long time frame may disadvantage Mr Najib as he may be toppled by scandal in the next two years.

The Deputy Premier acknowledges that he is under pressure from the opposition over allegations that he had sexual relations with Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was later found murdered.

He said he had declared on God's name - before Umno's grassroots leaders - that he had never met Ms Altantuya.

'There is no oath that is greater. For Muslims, that is the most significant one, and the delegates applauded when I made it,' he said.

carolynh@sph.com.sg