Bangkok, Oct 31: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad left office today amid a deluge of gushing praise from around the world tempered by advice to tone down his trademark outspokenness in retirement. Mahathir, 77, left office in a typically combative style by raising a controversy earlier this month with comments about alleged Jewish dominance of the world that riled the United States, Australia and much of Europe but made him a hero in the Muslim and Arab world.

"Ever a complex man, Dr. Mahathir's energy and vision, but not his prejudices, will be missed," an editorial in a London based newspaper said. There was a 96-page special tribute to Mahathir in a newspaper, while another newspaper said in a front page editorial: "Truly, this man has been a father to us.” Tributes also flowed in editorials around the world, including Saudi Arabia, Kenya and Singapore. Arab world's two most popular television stations, broadcast Mahathir’s retirement ceremony live.
Unwilling to make a concession to Mahathir’s retiree status, Australian Prime Minister John Howard refused to comment when asked if he had a last message for the man whose acerbic tongue has often lashed out against Australia. “I don't have any comments to make,” Howard told a radio station, but said the links forged by 200,000 Malaysians educated in Australian universities would be “more productive ... than the contribution made by heads of the government.”
Bureau Report