Prime-minister-in-waiting Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has given the first detailed insight into how he plans to run the country when he takes over from veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad next October.

His style might be different to Mahathir's but the political substance would be the same, Abdullah, 62, said in an interview on national television last night.

That would mean a business-friendly government, privatisation, economic growth with equitable distribution, power-sharing in government and national unity, he said.

"I can't imitate Mahathir's style. He has his own style. I will have mine. But the objectives will be the same."

Mahathir, 76, who has been in power for 21 years, announced in June that he would step down in October 2003 and named Abdullah, his deputy, as his successor.

One of the key issues confronting Abdullah when he takes over the reins will be the role of Islam in the government of this multicultural country, where Chinese and Indian minorities make up more than a third of the population.