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ISNIN Mei 3 1999
BERITA
Malaysia's Mahathir hints at staying in power for several years

AFP
KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (AFP) - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has indicated he could remain in power for at least the next five years despite calls for his resignation, the official Bernama news agency said Sunday. "Yes, I will hand over after the election. When ... you never know. Maybe after one year or two years or three years or four years," the 73-year-old Mahathir said in his hometown in the northern state of Kedah.
Mahathir, who has ruled Malaysia for 18 years, said he did not intend to be prime minister all his life. "I have no intention of becoming a lifetime prime minister," he said.
Malaysia is scheduled to hold general elections some time over the next year with the five-year term of the federal parliament expiring next April. Mahathir said there were many supporters who wanted him to remain in power but admitted there were others who wanted his resignation.
Mahathir also said he would hand over the reigns to his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The aging leader, who was recently hospitalised at a heart institute for a lung infection, said he had to hold the post of prime minister because he wanted to solve the country's economic woes.
He added that his ousted deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, currently serving a jail term on corruption charges, had been incapable of managing the economy. Gross domestic product contracted an estimated 6.7 percent last year, marking the first recession in 13 years.
Mahathir cited Anwar's economic measures such as increasing interest rates and reducing national expenditure as steps that damaged the economy. "When I found that Anwar did not know how to handle the economy, I did not want to step down," he said. Mahathir said Anwar's economic measures were carried out without cabinet approval but the cabinet had to abide with it initially because Anwar was a cabinet minister.
Anwar, 51, Mahathir's heir apparent, was sentenced on April 14 for six years in jail for corruption and was back in court Tuesday to face a new charge of sodomy. He was fired by 73-year-old Mohathir in early September amid differences over economic policy, triggering the biggest anti-government protests here in decades and culminating in Anwar's arrest on September 20.
Mahathir also said he would not abandon his parliamentary seat in Kubang Pasu, Kedah which he has held since 1974 amid rumblings that Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail may run against him. Azizah, 46, a mother of six young children who has emerged fiercely to defend her husband's innocence, has said she would consider running against Mahathir.

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EDITOR MUKA DEPAN BERITA AM BISNES GLOBAL FOKUS RENCANA SURAT PEMBACA FORUM KOLEKSI CONTACT	ISNIN Mei 3 1999 BERITA Malaysia's Mahathir hints at staying in power for several years AFP KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (AFP) - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has indicated he could remain in power for at least the next five years despite calls for his resignation, the official Bernama news agency said Sunday. "Yes, I will hand over after the election. When ... you never know. Maybe after one year or two years or three years or four years," the 73-year-old Mahathir said in his hometown in the northern state of Kedah. Mahathir, who has ruled Malaysia for 18 years, said he did not intend to be prime minister all his life. "I have no intention of becoming a lifetime prime minister," he said. Malaysia is scheduled to hold general elections some time over the next year with the five-year term of the federal parliament expiring next April. Mahathir said there were many supporters who wanted him to remain in power but admitted there were others who wanted his resignation. Mahathir also said he would hand over the reigns to his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The aging leader, who was recently hospitalised at a heart institute for a lung infection, said he had to hold the post of prime minister because he wanted to solve the country's economic woes. He added that his ousted deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, currently serving a jail term on corruption charges, had been incapable of managing the economy. Gross domestic product contracted an estimated 6.7 percent last year, marking the first recession in 13 years. Mahathir cited Anwar's economic measures such as increasing interest rates and reducing national expenditure as steps that damaged the economy. "When I found that Anwar did not know how to handle the economy, I did not want to step down," he said. Mahathir said Anwar's economic measures were carried out without cabinet approval but the cabinet had to abide with it initially because Anwar was a cabinet minister. Anwar, 51, Mahathir's heir apparent, was sentenced on April 14 for six years in jail for corruption and was back in court Tuesday to face a new charge of sodomy. He was fired by 73-year-old Mohathir in early September amid differences over economic policy, triggering the biggest anti-government protests here in decades and culminating in Anwar's arrest on September 20. Mahathir also said he would not abandon his parliamentary seat in Kubang Pasu, Kedah which he has held since 1974 amid rumblings that Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail may run against him. Azizah, 46, a mother of six young children who has emerged fiercely to defend her husband's innocence, has said she would consider running against Mahathir. Back To Top
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