Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement that he would not contest in the next general election was a right move to make since he had announced his resignation plan next year, said Keadilan today.

"It was not something extraordinary but was in line with public expectations after Umno and Barisan Nasional accepted his decision to quit from all party and government posts [in 14 months]," its secretary-general Sahri Bahari said in a statement.

"In fact, it would be most extraordinary if the prime minister is still keen to contest for a seat in the next election," he added.

Sahri said Mahathir's no-contest announcement yesterday was however given wide coverage in the media to convince Malaysians that the prime minister, who has been the member of Parliament for Kubang Pasu since 1974, was truly leaving.

"Dr Mahathir's reputation, his Machiavellian approach and the long transitional period had previously aroused public suspicion about his agenda," he said.

Create controversies

He said public suspicion had worsened because Mahathir had continued to create controversies by making unpopular policies and suggestions such as the recent proposal to teach Mathematics and Science in English in all schools starting next year.

This has given the impression that Mahathir has no confidence in his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, as his annointed successor, especially after he named Defense Minister Najib Tun Razak as a likely candidate to be the new deputy prime minister, added Sahri.

He also said Mahathir should resign as finance minister, a post he has held since Daim Zainuddin stepped down last year, as a show of his commitment to resign.

"Dr Mahathir should submit a formal resignation letter effective 25 Oct, 2003 to Parliament speaker and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as well," he said.

At the Umno general assembly in late June, Mahathir who is the party president had said he would relinquish all party posts.

Subsequently, he announced that he would hand over the premiership to his deputy Abdullah and relinquish all party and government posts by October 2003, after Kuala Lumpur hosts the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit.

Mahathir took over as prime minister from the late Tun Hussein Onn in 1981 and has been in power ever since.