Former premier Mahathir Mohamad predicted a landslide victory for his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Sunday's election but an uphill task in wresting back two states ruled by opposition Islamic hardliners.

In an interview Thursday with AFP five months after his retirement, Mahathir cited strong economic growth, racial harmony, Abdullah's new anti-corruption drive and subsiding anger over the sacking and jailing of his ex-deputy Anwar Ibrahim as trump cards for his successor.

"He has done very well. I am quite sure he is going to win by a bigger margin than in 1999," Mahathir said.

But he acknowledged that the role of Islam in government had become a key challenge and the battle between the ruling Umno and its rival Islamic party PAS for majority Muslim support had intensified.

Umno, which heads the ruling coalition, lost 20 seats and control of a second state in 1999 to PAS, which wants to turn Malaysia into a theocratic state.

Infighting within Umno

Mahathir said it would be tough to win back Kelantan, which PAS has ruled since 1990, mainly due to infighting within Umno in the state.

But he predicted a "50-50 chance" of wresting back neighbouring Terengganu amid unhappiness over PAS rule. He dismissed PAS' aims of capturing his home state of Kedah after it made major inroads in 1999.

"In Kedah, I think we should do better than in 1999. I don't think Kedah will fall to PAS. It is not that easy unless there is some catastrophe."

Mahathir attacked PAS leaders for promising supporters a place in heaven if they voted for the party.

"It's a warped interpretation of Islam. PAS' interpretation of Islam is wrong and they are responsible for splitting the Muslims," he said.

"They regard me, for instance, as an infidel and anyone who does not vote for PAS does not go to heaven. Very unfortunate because there will be 1.3 billion Muslims who will not be able to vote for PAS because they are not in Malaysia."

On Anwar Ibrahim

Mahathir said the Anwar factor had faded into the background after being a major issue in 1999 when the sacking, beating and jailing of his deputy led many Malays to switch to PAS.

Mahathir said he felt "angry" when he found out that Anwar, who was pictured around the world with a black eye, had been beaten by the former police chief - but had no regrets about sacking him.

"If I am asked to do it, I will do it again because I cannot accept a person of that low moral character should become the next prime minister of Malaysia. I have a responsibility for the country so I acted," he said.

Anwar, who is serving 15 years for sodomy and corruption, appeared to have been plotting a challenge to his leadership, Mahathir said.

"It seems to me that he had been preparing for this thing a long time because he built up support not only in the country but outside the country."

Mahathir said he believed many Malays would swing back to Umno in Sunday's polls.

"Over the last four years, things have been better explained. People have come to accept that it was not vengeance on my part or any personal animosity. It is just that I had no choice but to take this action," he said.

Under pressure

In the unlikely event of a poor electoral performance, Mahathir said Abdullah would come under pressure from within Umno but was unlikely to be challenged in party polls due this year.

"I think he's got good support (in Umno). It's most unlikely that he will do worse than in 1999 and if, I say a very big if, if his perfomance was worse than in 1999, obviously he will be under some pressure," he said.

"He won't be challenged but there will be dissatisfaction."

Despite his retirement after 22 years in office, Mahathir, who turns 79 this year, is still a politician at heart. He has campaigned for Umno although until doctors this week told him "not to talk too much" due to a bad cough. - AFP