Mahathir to retire on Oct. 31: Report

Mahathir to retire on Oct. 31: Report

MALAYSIA: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad plans to stand down at the end of next month after 22 years in power, local newspapers reported on Sunday.

It is the first time the 77-year-old Mahathir -- one of the world's longest serving leaders -- has given a definitive date for his retirement, although he has long made it clear he wanted to stand down before the end of the year.

The New Straits Times was one of three newspapers which on Sunday reported Mahathir telling journalists in Monte Carlo that he would hand power to deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the end of October.

"It will be the last day of October," the pro-government newspaper quoted Mahathir as saying after meeting a group of Malaysians studying abroad.

Mahathir has previously said he had no intention of seeking any influential political role following his retirement -- unlike Lee Kuan Yew did in neighboring Singapore in 1990, becoming Senior Minister after stepping down as Prime Minister.

He has also rejected suggestions he might consider a more international role, such as head of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

"I don't want to escape from the frying pan into the fire," he told the Financial Times in an interview last week. "I've had enough of boiling, cooking in the last 22 years. -- Reuters