Abdullah wants to tap into that vein of dissatisfaction before any rival for the deputy's post such as Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah does.

CNN: The New Malay Dilemma

His other main rival, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, was not given a ministry.

CNN: Stirred But Not Shaken

So far, he has replaced one minister (Muslim party leader Hamzah Haz), suspended another (Wiranto) and severely trimmed the bureaucratic powers of a third (state secretary Ali Rahman, who has since resigned).

CNN: Securing His Place

Andi Hamzah, a University of Indonesia law professor who worked on the 1980s draft criminal code, said the revision effort then devolved into endless debate among people of diverse political and religious viewpoints.

WSJ: Indonesia Weighs Curbs on Sex, Magic

But once Dr Mahathir does finally retire, will Mr Badawi, his chosen heir, be strong enough to fend off potential challengers, such as Tengku (Prince) Razaleigh Hamzah, from Kelantan, or the defence minister, Najib Tun Razak?

ECONOMIST: But the government faces an anxious future

Former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, a onetime rival of Mahathir who once bolted UMNO but has since returned to the ruling camp, has been given the task of winning back Kelantan, currently ruled by the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia.

CNN: PARTY ON THE MOVE

Habibie one day, then the next with fellow Muslim oppositionist Amien Rais of the National Mandate Party (PAN in Indonesian) as well as Muslim-linked United Development Party (PPP) head Hamzah Haz, whose party is expected to ally with Habibie's ruling Golkar.

CNN: INTELLIGENCE