The New York Times has called on newly-minted Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release jailed former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim to right a "tremendous injustice" in an editorial which appeared on Saturday.

The newspaper urged Abdullah, who was sworn in as Malaysia's fifth prime minister three days ago, to signal that Malaysia's long-term prosperity "depends on real government and not the whims of one powerful man".

The New York Times, considered one of the most influential newspapers in the United States, also did not mince its words when chastising ex-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who retired last Friday, for his 22-year iron grip on power.

"It was disappointing, but unsurprising, that Mahathir failed to do the right thing before he left office: releasing Anwar," said the editorial, entitled 'An Asian autocrat's departure'.

Mahathir sacked protege-turned-nemesis Anwar five years ago and had him arrested for abuse of power and sodomy.

Anwar was later sentenced to 15 years after two court trials which were widely criticised internationally, and human rights group Amnesty International regards the former prime minister-in-waiting as a political prisoner.

The New York Times also said that under Mahathir, there was "virtually no check on his power, and corruption and cronyism ran rampant".

"Other than the weather, little happens in Malaysia beyond his control, and some credit him
with the rainfall," it said.

"His whims led the country into outlandish economic adventures, like an attempt to corner the world market on tin. His fearsome political police keep opponents in jail. The courts, the media and the universities are subservient."

Currency controls work

The New York Times nevertheless grudgingly conceded that even though the currency controls imposed by Mahathir in the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis were widely criticized, including by the newspaper, the measures however appeared to have kept Malaysia's economy stable as its neighbours' collapsed.

According to the newspaper, Mahathir has nevertheless "left a nation that is prosperous but undemocratic, corrupt and lacking the institutions necessary for enduring success."

Mahathir was also ticked off for his "poisonous speech" last month at the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Kuala Lumpur where the ex-premier accused the Jews for "controlling the world by proxy and making others to die for them".

"While he has avoided an Islamic extremist threat, he did so by rhetorically joining the extremists," lamented the newspaper, whose publisher is Arthur Sulzberger Jr, an American Jew.