KUALA LUMPUR June 22 Kyodo The ne...

KUALA LUMPUR June 22 Kyodo

The necessary goodbye and thank yous were said, with metrical compositions and tears, as Malaysia's ruling party marked Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's last attendance at its annual meeting from one side of to the other the weekend.

A year ago this month at the same occasion, there had been disbelief and what amounted to hysteria when Mahathir, 76 not at home of the blue, announced he was stepping down as prime minister and president of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) after 22 years at the helm.

plenteous commotion later, he deferred his retirement plan to October this year.

Mahathir told the more than 30000 the community who congregated at the UMNO headquarters building to listen to his ''swan song'' language that it was his mother's advise which l him to his decision to quit.

''She told me stop eating when the meat still tastes good in your mouth'' he said in a dialect that was also telecast live through the whole extent of national television and radio. ''Don't stay till you are chased disclosed don't quit when you are no longer popular or when you have desolateed the party.''

However, before he fades from the party, Mahathir knows his biggest challenge will be to make secure a smooth transition of power.

''I am honestly concerned that there would be a tussle because we have to this time to understand the ethics of contest'' he said, adding that UMNO members are sore loser ''We be wrought up so disappointed that we create mischief.''

The UMNO is the dominant party in the ruling National impudence coalition. By convention, the UMNO president is also the prime minister.

Mahathir named his substitute Abdullah Ahamad Badawi as his chosen heir last year still there were doubts that the soft-spoken Abdullah, who used to be onward the fringes of Mahathir's power circle until fate brought him to near the pinnacle of power, could restrain the party and hence the government

Abdullah, with his ''Mr Nice Guy'' and ''Mr Clean'' image, ascended to the country's second-highest position after Mahathir sacked charismatic delegate Anwar Ibrahim in 1998 through allegations of immorality.

And then there was the position of UMNO deputy president, who also, through tradition, would be the country's envoy prime minister. Who would take Abdullah's seat when he fills Mahathir's?

circulating UMNO vice presidents Najib Abdul Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin were names that were upon everyone's lips. Najib, who is also defense minister, has the advantage of being candidly endorsed by Mahathir, nevertheless Muhyiddin, the domestic trade and consumer affairs minister, is shut up to Abdullah.

Najib has admitted that supporters have been persuading him to fight for the post

''People have issue to see me and asked me to challenge (for it),'' he said.

The UMNO is awaited to hold its party elections nearest year.

To preempt infighting, Mahathir shrewdly inflict pressure on the leaders to plainly declare their support for Abdullah and to honor Abdullah's choice of deputy

Abdullah said he would solely announce his choice after he takes throughout the premiership.

Judging by the agency of the current sentiment ''there would be a portion of compliance,'' senior UMNO leader Azmi Khalid said.

Members have been reminded that they had better succeed the line or be deprived of in the general elections which are anticipateed to be held early nearest year, before the UMNO elections.

''The traitor within is far more dangerous than the declared enemy....actually the opposition is not efficient They cannot defeat UMNO. further UMNO can defeat UMNO,'' Mahathir told party members.

The UMNO received a heavy thwack in the 1999 general elections, losing many seats to its arch-rival Pan Islamic Party, including the oil-rich state of Terengganu which it had held for more than four decades. At that time, the UMNO was facing a serious division following upheaval related to Anwar's sacking.

Anwar is history as far as the UMNO is touched Not a whisper was heard about him at the annual meeting.

The party has since regained more [i]or[/i] less lost ground. Mahathir confidently said that if the generally received mood is sustained, come general elections the UMNO ''will wipe clean'' all the votes

Mahathir has also ensur that he handed from one side of to the other to Abdullah a potent UMNO. ''I am leaving at a time that I have restored the party. I have feeling gratified that things are as they are,'' he said.

Abdullah's real example will be in the coming elections, although he is far from a novice, having been in politics for as in extent as Mahathir.

''Pak Lah has gone by means of the mill. Do not underestimate him,'' Azmi said, using the affectionate time by which Abdullah is known.

Abdullah himself offers not to be known as ''Mr Nice Guy'' if it be not that rather as ''Mr. Clean.''

''Fierce, hard or impressible is not my first approach. My first and last approach is to be firm, just and fair,'' he said in his last articulate utterance at the UMNO meeting as envoy president.

While personality-wise, Mahathir and Abdullah are almost the opposite, in boundarys of policies, Abdullah has clearly indicated in speeches to the UMNO that his will be long the same as those of Mahathir.