Mahathir Decides to Quit at Peak of Career

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, June 22, 2003

Mahathir Decides to Quit at Peak of Career

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has decided to quit from all posts in the ruing UMNO party and the government while still at the peak of his career.

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Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has decided to quit from all posts in the ruing UMNO party and the government while still at the peak of his career.

"My mother told me the best time to stop eating is when you are enjoying the food. I remembered the advice and so decided to quit while I am still enjoying being the prime minister and UMNO (United Malays National Organization) president," Mahathir said in his winding-up speech on the last day of the 54th UMNO General Assembly here.

"...not quitting when you are being pushed out, when you are no longer popular, or for destroying the party, and I am grateful that UMNO has been successfully rehabilitated," he said.

Mahathir, aged 78, will give up all posts in UMNO and the government after chairing the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit in October. He has named Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as his successor.

In his hour-long speech, Mahathir also thanked the delegates for expressing their support and appreciation to him when debating motions of economy, education and religion.

On the debate, he said there were no extreme criticisms of the party and the government, only support for the government's actions and policies.

He said what was needed was constructive criticisms and not extreme criticisms which the opposition could use to hit back at UMNO.

"Don't give others the weapon to stab us in the back, and while making criticisms, watch our language and keep focus," he said.

Mahathir said he was also glad to note that the general assembly which started last Thursday had proceeded without any untoward incident.

Hundreds of people jostled outside the conference hall to shake hands with the prime minister when the General Assembly ended.

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