[Mahathir nampaknya akan terus memegang potfolio kewangan negara untuk beberapa bulan lagi sekurang-kurangnya. Dia juga dijangka akan mengetuai BN dalam pemilu akan datang. Menurut beberapa sumber tertinggi koporat, Mahathir mengatakan beliau ingin menyusun beberapa kementerian dahulu dan tidak akan membuat rombakkan sebelum Februari tahun depan. Kemudian beliau akan menumpukan perhatian menyusun strategi dalam dua tahun berikutnya untuk memenangi pilihanraya. Sebelum ini Mahathir mengatakan ini 'mungkin' penggal terakhir buat dirinya. - Editor]

http://www.feer.com/2001/0109_06/p010intell.html

The Far Eastern Economic Review
Issue cover-dated 6th September 2001

INTELLIGENCE

Mahathir's in No Hurry to Quit

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad plans to hang on to the finance portfolio for several more months at least and has given further signs that he'll be leading the ruling National Front coalition into the next general election. The premier has been acting finance minister since the June resignation of Daim Zainuddin, but highly-placed business figures say Mahathir recently told a confidant he must sort out the ministry first and would not appoint a new minister before February next year. Then he would devote the next two years to preparing the Front for the next general election, which must be held in 2004 at the latest. Previously, Mahathir had maintained that this was "probably" his last term.