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KUALA LUMPUR, Wednesday (AFP) Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's chosen successor who will take over the post next year, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is often called "Mr Nice Guy".

But he faces a huge task in convincing the nation that he is up to the top job, which has been held with supreme authority by Mahathir for 21 years.

Mahathir's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party on Tuesday announced that Abdullah would succeed the premier after an summit meeting of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in October 2003.

Abdullah, 62, was appointed deputy premier in February 1999 to replace Mahathir's charismatic former deputy Anwar Ibrahim, who was sacked and jailed in September 1998 on sex and corruption charges.

Abdullah, who is also UMNO vice president, told a news conference after the announcement: "The (UMNO) supreme council supports (Mahathir's) decision one hundred percent.

"Throughout the time-frame there will be a smooth transition of power but for now he is still the prime minister.

"If there were any speculations of a jostle for power, it didn't take place."

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