Mahathir stirs poll speculation

Wed, 10 Nov 1999 | Source: REUTERS

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad abruptly canceled on Tuesday a major foreign trip, prompting speculation he will call snap elections expected to be his most difficult since winning power 18 years ago.

Mahathir made a last-minute decision to skip the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in South Africa this week to attend to "pressing matters" at home, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said.

The announcement to skip the summit, set for Nov. 12 to Nov. 15, came hours before Mahathir was to fly to Johannesburg and set off speculation the 73-year-old prime minister would soon dissolve parliament, forcing general elections within 60 days.

Political sources said the prime minister was expected to call a news conference for Wednesday afternoon after holding a weekly meeting with the king and chairing a regularly scheduled cabinet meeting.

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