Mahathir remains defiant

Mahathir remains defiant

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
vowed on Sunday to stay in power until "somebody shoots me or
tries to assassinate me," raising doubts about expectations he
would resign soon.

The 73-year-old leader, who has ruled Malaysia for 18 years,
said recent calls for his resignation were in vain and that he
would only relinquish power once he found a trustworthy
successor.

"Even if I am cursed or even if I am told I should go away, I
will stay on because I have a duty to the country," Mahathir was
quoted as saying by the national Bernama news agency in London
before heading to Jamaica for a summit of G-15 leaders.

Mahathir has come under unprecedented pressure to step down
since last September, when he sacked his popular deputy and
longtime heir apparent Anwar Ibrahim over alleged sexual
misconduct.