Mahathir strikes in campaign

Mahathir strikes in campaign

PERMATANG PAUH, Malaysia (AP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday took his campaign into the home district of his greatest political foe, Anwar Ibrahim, at the tail end of electioneering, which the opposition has denounced as the dirtiest ever.

In a speech to voters two days before Monday's crucial general election, Mahathir described Anwar as a former friend and protege.

"But unfortunately for him and for me, I discovered he had such horrible morals," said the 73-year-old leader, who sacked Anwar last September. "Anyone who is so depraved cannot become prime minister," he told a gathering of 2,000 supporters of the governing National Front.

The ousted deputy prime minister's wife, Azizah Ismail, is contesting in Permatang Pauh, a rural, Malay-dominated district which Anwar had represented for 16 years.

Azizah, who heads the National Justice Party, is facing Ibrahim Saad, her husband's former political secretary, in a battle which is symbolic for both sides.