Former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin today reiterated his decision not to contest in the upcoming general election.

The member of Parliament for Merbok said the Barisan Nasional candidate who will replace him in the next polls should be given full support.

"As you all know, I've already announced that I will not be contesting in the next general election.

"I hope that the person fielded as the BN candidate would get full support," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

He also expressed hope that the ruling front will achieve a greater victory this time around because of its excellent track record.

As far as his constituency was concerned, Daim foresees no major problems for BN. In the 1999 general election, Daim defeated Keadilan's Mocktar Mansor by a majority of 15, 376 votes.

The former finance minister resigned from his post in June 2001 after a two-month leave due to health reasons.

'Rift with PM'

However, certain quarters speculated that his exit was related to a rift with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, which the latter denied.

"We are not at war with each other...he asked to step down, I gave him two months to think it over and he felt he had to quit, so he quit," the premier had said when asked to comment on the issue then.

Following his resignation, Mahathir assumed the finance minister post.

Apart from his cabinet position, Daim had also relinquished his special functions minister portfolio and Umno treasure post.

Soon after, rumours abounded that Daim was being investigated by the police and at one stage, it was said he had been arrested, prompting Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to issue a denial .

Daim was finance minister from 1984-91 before resigning to return to a business career.

He returned to the cabinet in June 1998 as special functions minister - to promote economic recovery amid the regional financial crisis.

Many then saw his new a role as undermining that of Anwar Ibrahim who was finance minister and deputy premier then.

In January 1999 Daim was appointed finance minister following the sacking of Anwar, who is currently serving a 15-year jail term for corruption and sodomy.