Kuala Lumpur, June 25: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will stay in office until at least October 2003 and then be succeeded by his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, highly placed government sources said today. The succession plans, to be announced later in the day, could put an end to the political uncertainty that has engulfed Malaysia since Mahathir tearfully announced Saturday that he wanted to retire and agreed to stay only after supporters begged him. Mahathir, 76, who has led Malaysia for 21 years, is likely to continue to lead the ruling party, the united Malaysia national organization, and the governing national front coalition that it heads until the same time, the source told the associated press on condition of anonymity. The timeframe increases the chances that general elections, not due until 2004, could be held next year. Party loyalists have pushed Mahathir to call early polls to capitalize on declining popularity for the Islamic fundamentalist opposition, which made significant gains in 1999. Bureau Report