Razak wins nomination for party post

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister has secured enough endorsements to run for election as the ruling party's next president, according to an official count on Sunday, moving him closer to succeeding the country's unpopular leader.

64 branches of the United Malays National Organisation party have nominated Deputy Prime Minister Najeeb Razak to become the party's next president, surpassing the minimum 58 endorsements required.

Najeeb is widely expected to win the post unopposed in the party's elections for top office-bearers in March because his sole challenger, Razaleigh Hamzah, has received no nominations so far.