Mahathir plans to quit politics

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, MAY 14. The Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, has confirmed that he certainly carried a plan up his sleeve for political retirement. But he would not disclose the timing of the move.

Winding up the debate on the final day of the general assembly session of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in Kuala Lumpur, Dr. Mahathir said on Saturday: ``I will normally not reveal the date (of possible retirement), because, on the one hand, there are people who ask me to continue being Prime Minister for four (or) five terms, that is 25 years, and on the other (hand), there are those who ask when will I retire.''

Pointing out that he had `not decided yet when to retire,' Dr. Mahathir called upon the party's delegates to repose `confidence' in its new Deputy President, Mr. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, so that ``he will become Prime Minister when I retire.''

Dr. Mahathir said he was going to delegate more responsibilities to Mr. Abdullah Badawi, now Deputy Prime Minister, and other Ministers.

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Section  : International
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