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MANY Malaysians, forced to contemplate a future without Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad after his surprising forecast of a leadership change 'soon', have found the prospect troubling.

 During the 14 years of his leadership, Malaysia has achieved prosperity, political stability and racial harmony few would have believed possible.

 'Mahathir is like an antique; the older he gets, the more valuable he becomes,' a delegate told the annual general assembly of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), at which the Prime Minister foreshadowed his retirement.

 But for other Malaysians Dr Mahathir's remarks provoked excitement because of his implicit promise that Anwar Ibrahim would soon succeed him as UMNO president and prime minister.

 The 70-year-old Dr Mahathir may be valuable but many younger Malaysians want Mr Anwar, the 48-year-old Deputy Party President and Deputy Prime Minister to lead them into the 21st century.

 When Mr Anwar swept to the post of Deputy President in 1993 on a wave of popular support, the catchword of his campaign was perubahan or change.

 The possibility of a leadership struggle appears to have been averted with Mr Anwar's pledge of loyalty to the Prime Minister on Thursday and Dr Mahathir's hint of early retirement on Friday.

 Accordingly, Malaysia should be able to achieve a smooth and orderly transition of power from the old to the new generation without shocks to its political stability or economic dynamism.

 By contrast, Indonesia has yet to find a successor to its ageing President Suharto.

 And if Mr Anwar takes over before anyone of comparable intellect and leadership qualities emerges in Indonesia, he could become the dominant personality in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

 Mr Anwar is an impressive speaker. He mixes easily with people of diverse backgrounds and races and in his role as Finance Minister has extended his network of international contacts to the world's leading bankers and businessmen.

 At home, he is expected to continue Dr Mahathir's plan of economic development. But analysts are less certain about where he stands on education, religion and social policies.

 As a young man, he was a religious activist who led Ibim, the Muslim youth movement. His radical views saw him held under the country's Internal Security Act.

 Mr Anwar has sought to dispel concerns about his early activism by developing friendships among all races and injecting Chinese phrases and references to Chinese culture in his speeches.

 Associates say he is, essentially, a pragmatist. They say that while he sees many ills in the West, he will be less abrasive than Dr Mahathir in criticising its media or leaders.

 He delivered a more balanced message on Asian values during a visit to Hong Kong last December than has previously been heard from Kuala Lumpur.

 'It is altogether shameful, if ingenious, to cite Asian values as an excuse for autocratic practices and denial of basic rights and civil liberties,' he said. 'To say freedom is Western or un-Asian is to offend our own traditions as well as our forefathers who gave their lives in the struggle against tyranny and injustices.'  On such subjects as satellite television and the foreign press, he has expressed a more benign view than Dr Mahathir or Singapore's leaders.

 'Like Dr Mahathir, he will be the leader for his time,' a researcher said.



Anwar awaits his destiny