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
