KL's UMNO in fighting mood ahead of polls

KL's UMNO in fighting mood ahead of polls

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday rejected rumors he was planning to resign as Malaysia's ruling party began an annual congress in an upbeat and fighting mood ahead of general elections.

In an interview with Cable News Network (CNN), Mahathir, 73, declined to give any hint of the election date and rejected speculation he would soon step down after 18 years in power.

"I don't see why I should resign at this moment when I have always said that I need to have time to hand over the reins of the government to somebody who is capable of doing so, taking over from me," he said.

He indicated he would consider handing over power only after the polls.

The government's term ends in April and elections can be held up to two months after that, but Mahathir is widely expected to call for an early poll, fuelling interest in his speech to the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) general assembly on Friday.

Earlier on Thursday, the first congress of the party since deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's traumatic sacking and arrest last September was opened by Anwar's successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Inside a courthouse a few kilometers away, Anwar, jailed for six years in April for abuse of power, was undergoing a second trial, this time on sexual charges punishable by another 20 years in prison.

With the economy rebounding from recession and the opposition still fragmented, the UMNO congress opened in a festive atmosphere under the slogans "UMNO Then, Now and Forever" and "Unity, Loyalty, Service."

Mahathir, the party president, is consolidating his hold on the ranks after a purge of Anwar followers.

Abdullah, seen as a potential heir to Mahathir, stressed a patriotic theme in an address to the party's youth and women's wings, whose meetings traditionally open the congress.

UMNO is the lynchpin in Malaysia's ruling National Front coalition. More than 2,000 delegates were expected to attend the four-day UMNO congress here.

Abdullah said Malaysia "cannot be developed through debate and rhetoric" and "neither through promises and slogans nor demonstrations and chaos on the streets."

Malaysia was rocked by political turmoil after Mahathir sacked Anwar last September following a long feud within UMNO. Before their break-up, Anwar was seen as prime minister in waiting.

Anwar, 52, was sentenced in April to six years in prison for corruption, and is again on trial for alleged involvement in sodomy. He has denied all the charges and says he is the victim of a conspiracy.

Abdullah, looking ahead to the polls, said Malaysians who had not experienced colonial rule might be persuaded to "open the door of the country and allow foreign intervention to break up the nation."

He said if the opposition grabbed power, the country's future could be at risk.

"The people must be careful of such groups which appear to have gained support from foreign parties," he said, warning they "may be used as puppets."

Powerful foreign nations are "showing their arrogance and hiding under the banner of humanity and democracy to intervene in countries that they want to rule economically," he said.