Amid praise, Mahathir bows out

Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad, one of Asia’s longest-serving leaders, retired on Friday to a mix of Asian praise and Western silence after an international outcry over his remarks about Jews.

King Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail accepted Mahathir’s resignation and swore in Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the country’s fifth Prime Minister. Mahathir spent much of his time rubbing Western goverments the wrong way, while becoming a respected spokesman within the Islamic and developing worlds. But Mahathir’s speech to an Islamic summit two weeks before he stepped down, in which he referred to what he called Jewish domination of the world, raised a storm of protest from the US, Europe, Australia and Israel.

Asked if Mahathir had any advice for US President George Bush. To this, Mahathir replied: ‘‘It doesn’t pay not to tell the truth.’’ (Reuters)