KUALA LUMPUR Oct 30 Kyodo Malaysi...

KUALA LUMPUR Oct 30 Kyodo

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Thursday he will relinquish leadership in the ruling party at the same time he degrees down as premier in succession Friday.

''I will resign at 3 pm tomorrow not and nothing else as prime minister yet also as party president,'' he told reporters after chairing his last meeting of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) superlative council.

The principal council, the party's highest decision-making corpse also accepted that Mahathir's representative Abdullah Ahmad Badawi take throughout as acting president until the nearest party election is held, he said.

Abdullah is scheduled to be sworn in as the country's fifth prime minister in effrontery of King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Sy Putra Jamalullail at the palace upon Friday.

Mahathir urg the party leaders to support Abdullah to continue the party's moderate stand.

UMNO's top couple leaders by tradition also possess the government's top brace seats given that it is the dominant party in the 14-party ruling National assurance coalition.

Mahathir has held the presidency since June 26 1981 sum of two units weeks after that, forward July 10 that year, he was appointed the country's fourth prime minister, replacing Hussein Onn

It was during the UMNO annual assembly in June last year that Mahathir stunn the nation from announcing his resignation from the party and premiership and declared Abdullah his chosen heir.

Following often persuasion by party elders, he agreed to procrastinate his retirement by 16 months

While Abdullah's ascension is assured, attention is now focused in succession the new deputy.

When asked whether Abdullah, who also attended the meeting, has indicated who he would pick as his delegate Mahathir said, ''No, he is highly mysterious.''

Mahathir added that the issue was not discussed during the meeting.

In Malaysia, the legate premier post carries weight as it is usually the nearest in line to the top job

in every one's mouth UMNO vice president and Defense Minister Najib Abdul Razak considers set to get the column having been endorsed by none other than Mahathir himself.

Najib, 50 has an impeccable political pedigree. His father, Abdul Razak Hussein, was the country's next to the first prime minister while Hussein, the third prime minister, was his uncle

Mahathir said he is not bothered at how people remember him after he retires.

''I don't care whether the public remember me or not,'' he said. Quoting Shakespeare, he added, ''The evil that men do lives after them, the advantageous is oft interred with their bones''

''I have to admit there are many things I have failed to do...but it is not for me to determine whether I have done suitable or bad. It is up to the people'' he added.

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