Dr Mahathir Mohamad today dismissed the possibility of stepping down as prime minister in the near future, saying that he was "caught" in his present situation.

"It is not only my decision. If I had it my way, I would have been gone in 1998. But the circumstances did not allow me to do so. I am caught here," Mahathir told a press conference after today's proceedings at the Umno annual general assembly in Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

He was responding to a question on whether he would leave office after being the country's premier for two decades.

"Some people want me to disappear, others want me to be around. If you'd listen to the people at the assembly today ... a lot of them still want me to lead the country," he said.

He added that he wanted to step down "to please the foreigners" but it was not easy to do so.

Mahathir has been heading the government since 1981. He has also been the president of Umno - the dominant party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition - over the past 20 years.

In recent years, his leadership has come under severe criticism since the sacking and imprisonment of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir has spoken on several occasions that the regional financial crisis in mid-1997 had compelled him to continue as prime minister as he has the responsibility to lead the country out of its economic morass.

Last term in office

After the general elections in November two years ago, he reportedly said that it would be his last term in office.

However, at the press conference today, when asked if he would contest in the next general elections scheduled for 2004, Mahathir replied, "I may be sick, fall down or rejected by my party. I don't know."

The prime minister also denied that the recent detention of six reformasi key leaders under the Internal Security Act was an attempt to keep the opposition in check.

"The detention has nothing to do with Umno; it is to do with the national security of the country," he said.

He added that those detained under the Act wanted to see the country "plunge into turmoil" after their unsuccessful attempt to win in the last general elections.

Five Keadilan leaders and a social activist have been sent to the Kamunting detention camp in the northern state of Perak for a period of two years since early this month. Some of them were alleged as trying to overthrow the government with the help of separatist groups from a neighbouring country.

Mahathir also denied that the strong exhortation in his earlier speech to the Malay community was indicative of his desperateness. "As a leader, it is important to warn them that if they do certain things, something bad will happen."

Foreign journalist ticked off

Mahathir also ticked off a foreign journalist, who was requesting for an interview with the prime minister.

"ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) cannot tell the truth. You are biased. Even if I answer your questions, you will twist it around.

"Do your clients a decent service. Tell them the truth. Tell them that Malaysia is peaceful and the people are making money here, tell them to invest here and visit our country," he said.

Mahathir also took opposition leader Fadzil Noor to task for meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer last week.

"They are running over to white men and ask for their help to solve brown men's problems," he said. "We have discarded that (idea) a long time ago."

He accused Fadzil, who is also PAS president, of still living in the past. "He thinks white man can solve brown man's problem anytime," Mahathir said.

Earlier this morning, in his speech to officiate the Umno's annual meeting, Mahathir lashed out at foreigners for "hating" Malaysia.

He called on the Malays to learn from history and be grateful to Umno for defending their special rights as entrenched in the country's constitution.

Mahathir also warned that the disunity in Malays will cause them to be left behind by other races amidst the process of globalisation.

The general assembly, attended by more than 2,000 delegates from all over the country, is being held from today until this Saturday.