Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has achieved almost mythical status among his admirers in Malaysia and tributes have been pouring in as he prepares to step down on Friday.

A generation has known no other leader, and even those old enough to remember the previous prime minister have had their lives shaped dramatically by Mahathir's 22 years in power.

Hundreds of messages have appeared in local newspapers in recent weeks, hailing the 77-year-old premier as a hero for overseeing Malaysia's rapid economic development and giving this small nation of 23 million people a voice in the world.

Invited to send in their tributes by SMS on their mobile phones, they have competed for superlatives.

"Dr Mahathir, you are the greatest leader in Asia. You are irreplaceable. We love you," wrote Tham Kam Seng in a typical contribution.

"You are our nation's hero. A small place on every Malaysian heart will always have you," said another.

Sour notes

Professor emeritus Khoo Kay Kim, an historian with University Malaya, said Mahathir would be honoured as "father of modern Malaysia".

"He will be remembered for having physically transformed Malaysia and putting the country on the world map," he said.

But there have also been sour notes.

Opposition party leader Lim Kit Siang said the premier had left a first class infrastructure but people with a third class mentality.

"He has damaged institutional checks and balances which are essential to help the country move forward to becoming a mature, democratic and vibrant civil society," said the chairman of the Chinese-based DAP.

Elizabeth Wong, secretary-general of the National Human Rights Society, said Mahathir was leaving behind a very problematic legacy.

Malaysia was economically better off compared to two decades ago, but Mahathir had dismantled all of the country's democratic institutions, she said.

"For human rights activists, it has been very difficult to operate under Mahathir's era. He has shown distinct contempt towards us," she said.

Hardeep Singh, 36 year-old businessman, said it was about time Mahathir stepped aside.

"He has done a lot of good things for Malaysia. But we need some reforms in the political, economic and social fields."

Mahathir's thoughts

These quibbles, however, have not prevented a major Malaysian university from introducing a compulsory subject for its 100,000 students: "Thoughts of the Prime Minister".

A book of that title, containing a collection of Mahathir's speeches, will be required reading at the state-owned University of Technology MARA.

Mahathir is renowned for his outspoken and often controversial opinions on everything from minor domestic issues to global politics, the need for technological development and the true meaning of Islam.

A 10-volume encyclopedia of his ideas has also been launched in Arabic and English.

"Some people say Mahathir is the greatest Malay leader that we have seen in the history of our nation," Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said at the launch of the encyclopedia.

Abdullah, who takes over from Mahathir on Friday, said: "His legacy will be seen in his ever-flowing cornucopia of ideas, thoughts and opinions on a wide range of issues and topics.

"Laymen and intellectuals will find pearls of wisdom in his ideas and thoughts. Malaysians and Muslims will benefit enormously from reading and re-reading his speeches." - AFP