Kepala Batas (Malaysia), Nov 02: Malaysia`s newly-installed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi signalled at the weekend that elections could be called early as he seeks to win his own mandate from voters. Abdullah took over on Friday from Mahathir Mohamad, who retired after 22 years in power, simply because he was the chosen successor and next most senior member of the ruling party -- without having faced a popular vote.


Elections are not due until the end of 2004, but the fact that Abdullah chose to raise the issue in his maiden speech as prime minister on Saturday lent credence to speculation that polls will be called within months.

"Let us work harder so that when we face the general election we will get a bigger victory than in the last election," he told tens of thousands of supporters who gave him a festive welcome in his Homestate Penang.

In another telling sign today, Abdullah visited flood victims in two rural areas seen as strongholds of the opposition Islamic Party (PAS) and announced 50 million ringgit ($ 13.16 million) in relief fund for some 25,000 affected farmers in Penang and neighbouring Kedah.

Abdullah, widely known as "Pak Lah" (Uncle Lah), displayed an easy charm as he handed out live goats, paddy seeds and fertiliser to villagers whose crops and livestock were devastated last month by one of the country`s worst floods in recent years.

Bureau Report