By Sim Leoi Leoi

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's decision not to contest in the party elections in March will be good for Umno as the party can then rebuild itself, said his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister said he was glad that he had been wrong when he wrote in his blog www.chedet.com that the Umno president would not be stepping down.

"Of course, I am very happy for Umno, not for myself, because the party can rebuild itself. But it will not be able to restore the full confidence of the people in itself as a lot of its supporters, who voted for the Opposition, may want to continue working for them.

"I think it's better for him to step down now, rather than wait until March. This is because he will still be some kind of obstruction as he is not yet giving (Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib Tun Razak the full authority to rehabilitate the party," he said in response to Abdullah's announcement on Wednesday.

Until Abdullah steps down in March, Dr Mahathir said the Premier must however let his deputy start administering the country according to his capabilities and policies.

"Until March, Pak Lah (Abdullah) must ... let Najib run the show. He should not interfere because if Najib appears to be following him or taking his advice, I think the latter will lose support," he said.

Asked if he would rejoin the party now that Abdullah would no longer be president by March, Dr Mahathir said he would have to study the situation.

"Yes, I said I am going to rejoin Umno but he is still president until March. But if I can do some good by rejoining, I will," he said.

The former Umno president quit the party in May, citing a lack of confidence in its current leaders.

Asked if he would be roped in to act as mentor to Umno, Dr Mahathir said he was prepared to be consulted on solving problems.

"But never as a mentor. I'm always free with my advice ... even when they don't ask, I give it," he said.