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