Kuala Lumpur: Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak today thanked Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi for naming him his successor, media reported today.

"I appreciate very much the prime minister's trust in me and I will honour Abdullah's request to me to continue cooperating with him as the prime minister," Najib was quoted as saying by Bernama.

The prime minister had in the past told this to him and several civil servants behind "closed doors" but yesterday was the first time he made it known openly, Bernama quoted Najib as saying.

Badawi had made the announcement during a closed-door meeting with leaders yesterday, adding that there were no problems between the two. Badawi, however did not specify when he would step down.

"I will know when to go, but give me a chance to implement what I have promised," he was quoted as saying by the New Strait Times.
Source : PTI