Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that he did not rule out the possibility of appointing a finance minister before he steps down in October next year.

"I would appoint someone and not excluding the possibility of appointing a full minister (finance). But I won't tell you who (he is)," he was quoted as saying by the official news agency Bernama

Mahathir said this during a question and answer session at a business luncheon in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 76-year-old premier assumed the position of finance minister after Daim Zainuddin stepped down last June.

Daim was appointed following the sacking of former deputy prime minister-cum-finance minister Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

The finance portfolio is a senior and powerful position in the Malaysian cabinet. Traditionally held by the MCA president, the finance portfolio was given to an Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah for the first time in the early 80's.

Abdullah capable

Earlier, Mahathir expressed confidence in his current deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ability to lead the country.

Asked by a foreign journalist whether Abdullah would be able to provide a leadership of similar calibre, the premier replied: "You must understand that in Malaysia it is not the individual really, it is the policy."

He added that since achieving independence in 1957, the country has been consistent in her policies.

"We have never been anti-business, we have always been business-friendly. At the time when most newly independent countries were nationalising foreign holdings we went the other way, we invited more foreigners to come and help with our economy," he said.

The premier, who has been steering the nation for 21 years, added that Malaysia acquired foreign-owned estates and mines by buying them at the normal prices at the stock market.

"So, these policies are something espoused by the party (Umno) and not the individual," he said.

Mahathir said what he was intrumental in doing was "merely to give the push."

"And I'm quite sure my successor has the same capacity," he added.

One June 22, Mahathir stunned the nation when he suddenly announced his decision to quit from all his posts with immediate effect.

However, the premier was later coaxed into remaining in power until next October.

Mahathir is on a three-day official visit to Thailand and will return home tomorrow.