The Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, called a meeting of the policy-making body of his ruling party late yesterday, to discuss the appointment of a new deputy prime minister following the dismissal of Mr Anwar Ibrahim, according to reports.
But party sources in the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) said the naming of a new deputy was unlikely as Dr Mahathir was only expected to consult the party over whether to appoint a successor soon or to wait until party elections next year.
Outside Kuala Lumpur, hundreds of people gathered in Temerloh last night for an antigovernment rally by a new opposition coalition calling for the repeal of Malaysia's draconian Internal Security Act (ISA).
The organisers expected 30,000 people at the rally called to mark the official launch of the Islamicled Malaysian People's Justice Movement (Gerak). The new alliance, embracing three opposition parties and a dozen other government organisations, was launched at a massive rally north of Kuala Lumpur on September 27th.
Malaysian police have refused to issue permits for rallies planned separately by the government and opposition parties at the weekend. The move followed a High Court ruling imposing an immediate halt to public comments on charges against Mr Anwar. Police decided not to issue permits for the rallies, planned at two different stadiums on Saturday, for security reasons.
The Education Minister, Mr Najib Tun Razak, had said that Saturday's rally was to "show to the world" that the position of Dr Mahathir "has not weakened despite negative media reports". Meanwhile, Indonesia announced that the President, Mr B.J. Habibie, had cancelled a planned trip to Malaysia, but was at pains to avoid saying it had anything to do with its neighbour's political unrest.
"Due to activities in [Indonesia], Habibie has to cancel his planned visit to Malaysia in October. We have yet to make a decision whether to attend APEC or not," the Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Alatas, said, referring to a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in the Malaysian capital in mid-November.