Ah! Now we know why Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has decided to step down as Malaysia's head honcho. According to Jeffrey in his letter Dr M broadening his horizon , running a small place like Malaysia is no longer a challenge for Dr M. He has bigger fish to fry, such as the proposed international "Islamic Union".

Why, no less a potentate than Iranian President Mohammad Khatami flew into Kuala Lumpur to persuade Dr M to head this geopolitical attempt to finally put a stop to the US-led Western hegemony.

After having "put Malaysia on the map" with projects like the world's tallest Petronas Towers (which we all know in one stroke pulled estate workers and other poor Malaysians into prosperity), the Multimedia Super Corridor (where even now Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and other IT giants are busy putting together software for the 22nd century) and the futuristic KLIA (it's so futuristic that today's airlines are having problems landing there), it's time for Dr M to move on.

The matter is urgent. US President George Bush is getting ready to attack Iraq, and the only one who can stop him is Asia's "elder statesman" Dr M.

It's a pity the Muslim world took so long to recognise their saviour. Imagine what the world would be like if they had tapped him when he was just in his 50s. It would have been Malaysia's loss, but the world would have been a better place!

We would probably not have had to put up with infernal Western-created devices such as cars, tall buildings, airports, modern roads and all that multimedia stuff.

Now, at 76, one wonders how long Dr M can lend his one-of-a-kind skills to make the world a fairer place, where the US and other Western powers on one hand, and China on the other, do the bidding of the wondrous, rich and progressive Muslim world headed by "Dr Caliph."

Because heading the Islamic Union will have to be just a stop on Dr M's way to his ultimate job. According to Umno sources, God has decided to retire, and his representatives are negotiating a remuneration package with Dr M to take His place . . . . .