KUALA LUMPUR July 3 Kyodo Speakin...

KUALA LUMPUR July 3 Kyodo

Speaking in public for the first time since his onset resignation announcement late last month Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Wednesday he will not detain any official position after handing through the whole extent of power late next year.

''No, I have already made it to a high degree clear that when I leave, I leave completely I am not going to shut up any position, either in the party or in the government'' he told reporters after returning from a 10-day holiday in Italy.

Mahathir anticipateed tanned and relaxed, a far scream from the emotional spectacle he staged onward June 22 when he tearfully announced he was quitting as president of the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and as chairman of the ruling National front rank coalition.

He described the plan to hand athwart power to Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as an ''UMNO tradition.''

''The delegate takes over from the president in the party and as head of a party in the majority, he will be appointed as prime minister,'' he said at the pres talk telecast live across the nation.

''I have worked with him for a lengthy time,'' Mahathir said, adding that he formerly asked Abdullah whether he was ready for the work at jobs ''He said he is.''

Mahathir also explained wherefore he decided to announce his resignation at the UMNO conference

''I have mentioned it before to a certain number of leaders and friends...but all of them always insisted that I stayed onward if possible to the expiration of my life,'' he said.

''Parting is always a sad thing. I have been with the party for 21 years as prime minister and president of the party and been associated almost three-quarters of my lifetime with the party,'' he said.

''It is an admission that I am getting old-fashioned so people get a little bit emotional,'' the 76-year-old premier said.

Mahathir reiterated that he had wanted to grade down since 1998 further was held back by the recession and the political quandary sparked according to the sacking of his former delegate Anwar Ibrahim.

''I had to work hard to revive the party. The party has since reclaimed Support has strengthened. If I went earlier when the party was facing point in disputes was weak, that would direct the eye like I am running away from responsibility,'' he said.

''I have serv protracted enough. I have spent quite a bit of time ensuring the party gains might and support from the tribe So I thought this was a beneficial time for me to go'' he said.

onward June 25, UMNO laid public Mahathir's plan, in which he will pace down after chairing the Organization of the Islamic interview leaders' summit in Kuala Lumpur forward Oct. 24 and 25 nearest year and then pass the baton to Abdullah.

Mahathir left for his holiday onward June 23, just one day after announcing and later retracting his resignation.

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