Mahathir to Remain at Helm for a Year

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, June 24, 2002

Mahathir to Remain at Helm for a Year

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will remain leader of Malaysia for at least another year.

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Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will remain leader of Malaysia for at least another year.

A political succession timetable has been put in place that will see his deputy, Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, ease into the top position in Umno and later lead the ruling coalition into the next general election, scheduled for 2004.

This transition period could take up to a year.

News of the succession timetable will bring relief to Malaysians and foreign investors concerned over the aftershock about the effect on the economy of Dr Mahathir's resignation and retraction.

The Straits Times understands from Umno officials that Dr Mahathir had planned to outline the succession timetable after announcing his resignation from all government and party positions at the Umno general assembly on Saturday.

But his plan was scuttled by his emotional collapse and well-meaning party leaders who stopped him from continuing his address to more than 2,000 delegates.

In between sobs, he was heard chiding senior party members for disrupting his speech.

Before he left for a week's holiday in the Mediterranean with his wife yesterday afternoon, the Malaysian leader, who has been in power for 21 years, met Datuk Seri Abdullah at his home in Putrajaya.

The country's two top leaders then met senior Umno leaders, when Dr Mahathir reiterated his intention to quit but said he had planned to stay on for a short transition period.

He wanted everyone present to give their support to Datuk Seri Abdullah, saying that his chosen successor would lead Umno and the Barisan Nasional coalition into the next general election.

There was unanimous support.

The Prime Minister is due back on July 3 or July 4 and has a full calendar in coming months, including a visit to Thailand and a meeting of G-15 nations.

Aides and friends of Dr Mahathir say that although he always wanted to quit while on top, they believe frustration hastened his decision.

His frustration was clear in an interview he gave Mingguan Malaysia a week before his shock announcement. He said if he could turn back the clock, he would wish to be an ordinary Umno

member.

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