KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA - A REBEL party in Malaysia's ruling coalition on Friday won the backing of members to press ahead with its no-confidence vote against embattled Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

After a marathon session lasting more than six hours, top leaders of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) endorsed party president Yong Teck Lee who Wednesday called for the no-confidence move against the premier.

'It is a decision reached by consensus after hearing all the views in the supreme council meeting. Majority of the supreme council members supported the motion of no confidence against the prime minister,' Mr Yong told reporters.

'The two SAPP MPs will support any vote of no-confidence against the prime minister in parliament or one of them will move the motion,' he added.

Analysts said the unprecedented move compounded Mr Abdullah's problems after disastrous March elections, and that it could trigger a ripple effect of dissent within the 14-party coalition.

Mr Abdullah has been fighting for his political survival since the polls that saw the opposition win a third of parliamentary seats and control of five states.

A recent 41 per cent petrol price hike, which has triggered widespread outrage and public protests, has made Mr Abdullah's position even more tenuous.

But political figures said the vote would not 'see the light of day' when parliament reconvenes on Monday because of parliamentary rules that make it easy for the ruling party to block the motion. -- AFP