Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today hinted that Malaysia may hold a snap election after he steps down in October and urged his ruling National Front coalition to secure a resounding victory.

"National Front coalition members must get ready for an election. They must give total support to the National Front," Mahathir told reporters after opening the annual meeting of the Malaysian Indian Congress, a senior partner in the ruling coalition.

"In these challenging times, we need a strong government to ward off those who try to undermine us."

The 77-year-old leader has announced he is to step down in October and his heir apparent, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, would stand at the head of the party at the polls.

Confirms decision

"Yes, of course," he said, when asked if he remained true to his pledge that he would not lead the party in the next elections.

Mahathir, who marks 22 years in power in July, has pledged to hand over power to the 63-year-old Abdullah after hosting an Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit from October 11-14.

"Whoever heads the National Front will lead the party in the election," he said.

The ruling coalition has led Malaysia since independence in 1957. It is dominated by Mahathir's United Malays National Organisation.

In the 1999 November elections, the National Front celebrated a resounding poll victory, taking 148 of the 193 parliamentary seats and maintaining power in nine of the 11 state assemblies.

The Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), an Islamic opposition party whose ultimate aim is to form an Islamic state in Malaysia, tripled its parlimentary seats to 27, kept control of the Kelantan state assembly in the northern Malay heartland and captured neighbouring Terengganu.

Elections are held every five years in Malaysia, with the next ballotting due in November 2004.

December polls?

But Lim Kit Siang, chair of the opposition Democratic Action Party, said he expected elections to be called as early as December 2003.

"The possibility of an election in December is there. I think Abdullah will lead the ruling coalition in the election," he told AFP .

Mohamad Rahmat, National Front secretary-general, said the party's machinery was being oiled for a snap election.

"There is speculation that election could be held this year," he said.

"I could say it could be held anytime. We are ready for an election." - AFP