Palm | Kelapa Sawit

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak has called a press conference at 4 p.m. (0800 GMT) on Wednesday, amid increasing uncertainty about the political balance in a northern opposition-held state.
An aide to Najib, who will assume the premiership in March, said the briefing would address a "political" issue, but declined to give further details.
Two lawmakers from the Perak state government quit the opposition alliance in the last week, leaving it with a one-seat majority and sparking talk of defections which could result in the coalition losing control of the state.
The chief minister of Perak was reported by local media as having asked the Perak ruler for permission to dissolve the state assembly to pave the way for fresh polls in the state.
If Najib's National Front coalition gains control of Perak state, it would be a boost for the alliance which has lost two key by-elections in the last six months after suffering its worst performance in the March 2008 general election.