updated version

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is due to step down next year, announced today that he would not stand for parliament in the next elections, the official Bernama news agency reported.

It is the first time the prime minister has made his position clear on the issue since his shock announcement in June that he would quit all his top political posts.

Mahathir, who has been in power for 21 years, had previously hedged when asked whether he would seek re-election to parliament, saying in July: "I will think about it when the time comes."

An election is not due until late 2004, but there had been widespread speculation that it would be held next year, either before or after he steps down at the end of October.

Mahathir's statement, which Bernama said he made during a meet-the-people session at Alor Setar in the northern Kedah state, would suggest the poll will only be held after quits as prime minister.

"I think it will only be in 2004," political scientist P Ramasamy told AFP . "In the past they have really held on to schedule."

Abdullah to fight next poll

That would leave Mahathir's named successor, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, to lead the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno) into the election, where the main opposition is expected to come from the hardline Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS).

Mahathir, who has been the member of parliament for Kubang Pasu in Kedah since 1974, told the meeting in Alor Setar that they should reject PAS, which he has accused of distorting the true teachings of Islam.

PAS, which rules two of country's 13 states, has announced plans to enact strict Islamic criminal laws including amputation for theft and death by stoning for adultery in northeast Terengganu state.

The party rose to prominence in 1999 general elections, benefitting from a split in the Malay community following the sacking and jailing of Mahathir's popular deputy Anwar Ibrahim.

But analysts say support for the party has eroded recently amid fears of Islamic extremism, and a major Chinese-based party pulled out of an opposition alliance with PAS shortly after the Sept 11 attacks on the United States.

Abdullah has pledged to continue with Mahathir's more moderate Islamic leadership, under which Umno heads a ruling coalition of ethnic parties.

Stifling dissent

Throughout his tenure, Mahathir succeeded in fostering a sense of national identity in multiracial Malaysia and presided over dramatic growth which transformed the nation from a commodities-based economy into a manufacturing centre.

But critics say the confrontational premier also bent independent national institutions to his iron will, allowed cronyism to make political allies rich, used tough security laws to stifle dissent and severely limited press freedom.

Abdullah, 62, who was appointed deputy premier in February 1999 to replace Anwar and is known as 'Mr Nice Guy', had previously held the education, defence and foreign ministry portfolios. — AFP