KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Friday (14 Mar) found himself fighting fires on different fronts in the aftermath of last weekend's polls.

There was a renewed call for him to resign and a tussle with royals over his choice of two state leaders.

In Penang and Selangor, both now in opposition hands, angry United Malays National organisation (Umno) members took to the streets to protest against plans to dismantle pro-Malay policies.

PM Abdullah was huddled with his coalition partners Friday to decide on a Cabinet line-up when newly elected MP Mukhriz Mahathir demanded his resignation.

The youngest son of former premier Mahathir Mohamad said he wanted the PM to resign to prevent further damage to Umno and the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

"He has to take responsibility. It was dissatisfaction with his leadership that has caused us to lose votes, particularly among our own people," he told The Straits Times.

Mukhriz, who won his Jerlun seat in Kedah with a higher majority than in 2004, sent a letter to top Umno leaders on Wednesday (12 Mar), calling for the PM's resignation.

An influential exco member of Umno's youth wing, he is the highest-ranking leader to call for PM Abdullah's resignation.

His father Dr Mahathir had done the same on Sunday (9 Mar).

In his letter, Mukhriz told the PM that the people had rejected him as the nation's chief executive.

"Let's not deny the truth just for the sake of keeping your seat as Prime Minister," said a translation of the letter, which was written in Malay.

PM Abdullah, who has insisted that he will not step down, told Bernama news agency that he would leave it to Umno Youth to discipline Mukhriz.

He was also facing problems with the royal houses of Perlis and Terengganu over his choices for chief minister or Menteri Besar (MB).

He told Bernama Friday that he had appointed Umno strongman Shahidan Kassim to be the MB of Perlis. But the Raja of Perlis appointed state assemblyman Mohamed Isa Sabu instead.

In Terengganu, MB-designate Idris Jusoh has yet to be sworn in. This is also believed to be due to resistance from the palace.

The impasse in both states has yet to be settled, causing fears of an emerging crisis.

Penang saw its share of drama Friday when Umno Youth held a protest against moves by the government led by the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party.

New chief minister Lim Guan Eng had been reported as saying his government would scrap the pro-Malay New Economic Policy (NEP).

He later said it was the media which overplayed the issue and his focus was really the corruption, cronyism and nepotism associated with the NEP.

But about 1,000 Umno members and supporters gathered outside the state secretariat, carrying banners which said Mr Lim did not respect the Malays.

A smaller group also protested peacefully at the state secretariat in opposition-led Selangor.

Meanwhile, the three opposition parties finally appeared to have resolved their dispute over who should lead the Perak government.

They agreed to a Parti Islam SeMalaysia candidate taking the MB's post and to a division of the exco positions. (By CAROLYN HONG/ The Straits Times/ ANN)