Tumultuous welcome as Dr M spells out future after shock resignation

comments     Lawrence Bartlett     Published     Updated

Thousands of Malaysians gave a tumultuous welcome home today to veteran Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who finally broke a 10-day silence to say he would play no further role in government after stepping down in October next year.

An estimated 10,000 supporters chanted "Long live Mahathir" and held banners reading "Dr M We love you" and "Welcome home hero of our homeland" as the 76-year-old leader landed at an airforce base near here after a 10-day holiday in Europe.

Explaining for the first time his shock resignation which plunged this normally stable nation into turmoil, a relaxed and smiling Mahathir outlined his plans for a smooth transition of power.

"When I leave I leave completely. I'm not going to hold any position in the party or government," a relaxed and smiling Mahathir told a news conference.

"I've served for 21 years. I think 21 years is quite a long time for a prime minister.

"In any case I believe I would have to go some time, and that was as good time as any. I have worked to my best abilities to improve the party, and believe that the party has recovered and support for the party is strong again, so I am not running from my responsibility."

Decision best for all

Earlier he had been garlanded with flowers after arriving on a government jet at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base outside Kuala Lumpur at the end of a 10-day holiday in Europe.

His arrival home, the news conference and his subsequent speech to an adoring crowd of several thousand holding banners reading "Dr M We love you" and "Welcome home hero of our homeland" were broadcast live on national television.

Mahathir told his supporters: "I have decided that the decision I made is the best for all of us, for the country, the people, for the joint development in this country."

The last time Mahathir appeared in public he was in tears amid astonishing scenes at his ruling party congress on June 22 - again on live television - where he was mobbed before he could finish a declaration of his intent to quit his political posts.

Within hours, and without another word in public, he flew off to Italy, leaving senior party officials scrambling to explain his behaviour and come up with plans for a transition of power.

Original intention

Three days after he left, on Tuesday last week, they announced that Mahathir would retire in October 2003 and hand over power to Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Mahathir said Wednesday that if he had been allowed to finish his speech at the assembly, he would have announced that he was quitting immediately, but was persuaded to stay on.

Mahathir said he had previously "told a few leaders and friends about my intention to leave. But all those I spoke to wanted me to continue, if I could, till the end of my lifetime.

"So I decided to make an open statement after the general assembly."

He said that in discussions after the pandemonium at the assembly, "when I found that many didn't agree with my intention and wanted me to continue, I asked initially for one month but they didn't accept."

Mahathir said the 16-month transition period was later decided upon so that he could host a summit in Kuala Lumpur in October next year of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

"I have given an assurance to a lot of the leaders that I will welcome them at the meeting, so it's not good for me to not keep my promise."

Getting old and emotional

He said he had asked Abdullah "some time back, if he was ready to take over and he stated his readiness to take over."

Abdullah would receive his full backing, he said. "I have enjoyed strong support, and I think it is my duty to provide the same strong support to my successor."

Asked why he had been so emotional at the party assembly, the 76-year-old leader said: "Parting is always a sad thing. Being associated a whole three quarters of my lifetime with the party, of course I felt rather sad that I would have to take this decision.

"Also I am getting old, people will get emotional."

Mahathir said the 16-month transition period was set so that he could host a summit in Kuala Lumpur in late October next year of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

His return and pledge of continuity could not prevent a slide on the local stock market, however, which dealers attributed to profit-taking after window-dressing by state-linked investment funds Tuesday and overnight losses on Wall Street. -AFP



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