Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad hailed a move by the country's key Chinese party to limit leaders to nine years to curb infighting but ruled out expanding it to his ruling Malay party.

The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), the second biggest party in the National Front coalition, is expected to amend its constitution during its annual assembly here to cap the tenure of presidency and other key posts to three terms or nine years.

The move followed the resignation of the MCA's top two leaders in May to end a long-standing power feud, which was feared to threaten the coalition's performance in the general election is due late 2004 but widely expected to be called early next year.

Mahathir said he was "grateful" the MCA had resolved its party conflict ahead of elections because votes from Chinese, who make-up a quarter of Malaysia's 23 million people, were crucial to the coalition due to a split among majority Malays.

His United Malays National Organisation (Umno) lost seats to the opposition Islamic party in the 1999 polls after the sacking and arrest of ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, and is still consolidating its position.

No problem in Umno

Mahathir said the nine-year limit was "suitable" for MCA after its party crisis but it may "not necessarily be suitable for other parties" including Umno.

"Umno at the moment has got no problem. I have been president of Umno for 22 years. If we had that limit, then I won't be president and if I can't be president, I can't be prime minister also," he told reporters after opening the MCA assembly.

"Then you are limiting my premiership," he added in jest.

Umno president and deputy president traditionally become the country's prime minister and deputy premier.

Mahathir said some countries limited tenure of leaders to one term but this was inadequate and good leaders should be kept longer.

Nine years a good time

"If a person is good, keep him but in some cases, if people are worried, okay you can limit. I think nine years is a good time, enough time to do whatever you want to do," he added.

Mahathir, 77, will hand over power to his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at end-October after 22 years in office.

He earlier received a standing ovation and loud applause from more than 2,000 MCA delegates for his contribution to the country. The party also pledged support to Abdullah. - AFP