Home>>World
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, June 24, 2003

Abdullah Suitable to Take over Premiership: Mahathir

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Tuesday that his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is suitable to take over as prime minister when he steps down in October this year.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Tuesday that his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is suitable to take over as prime minister when he steps down in October this year.

He said he has confidence in Abdullah to carry on the country'spolicies.

"I think he is very suitable to take over," he said at the Parliament lobby here.

Mahathir said: "We have worked together for a long time. We know each other very well, and I have no problem working with him."

On whether he is worried that the new government will change the current policies after he retires, he said that Malaysia has been practicing collective decision-making through the Cabinet and"I have no worries about that."

"We belong to a single party and the policy of the party remains even though the leaders of the party change," Mahathir said.

"The decisions are made by the Cabinet and everybody is bound by the Cabinet. It is not (the decision of the) prime minister alone," he said.

"If the prime minister comes up with an idea but the Cabinet does not agree, the idea cannot go through," he said, adding "thisis an entrenched policy of the government, and the way the government handles any situation is determined by the Cabinet."

Mahathir, who has been in power for 22 years, stunned the nation with a resignation announcement in June last year. He lateragreed to continue to helm the government till October this year to ensure a smooth and orderly transition of power to his deputy.


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






Mahathir Decides to Quit at Peak of Career



 


News Analysis: Iran, Next US Target? ( 2 Messages)

Five Major Problems in China's Income Distribution ( 3 Messages)

China Adopts Draft Regulation on Vagrants ( 4 Messages)

Democracy in Iraq, through Ballot or Bullet? ( 7 Messages)

China-made HDTVs Sold to US Army ( 3 Messages)

Chinese Girl Granted US "President Scholarship Prize" ( 2 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved