In an interview with select members of the Japanese media, Mahathir said Malaysia will continue with controls on capital flows to prevent speculative currency trading until solid regulations have been developed by the international community.

"Until there are firm international rules, we will continue to do things on our own," Mahathir was quoted by Kyodo news service as saying.

Asked about former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, whom he sacked, Mahaphir said he was unfit to be a national leader because he had violated the law more than 10 times, Kyodo reported.

"Although he was an important person, we could not give him special treatment," Mahathir was quoted as saying.

Anwar, who was arrested after leading demonstrations and calling for Mahathir's resignation, has been charged with sodomy and corruption, which hedenies.

Mahathir was also quoted as saying: "I had intended to resign after the APEC meeting, but due to continuing economic problems I will remain in office until after the party convention selects its number two (person) next year."

Traditionally, the president of Mahathir's United Malays National Orgalisation (UMNO), but Anwar was expelled from the UMNO on September 3, a day after he was sacked from the cabinet.

Although the 72-year-old Mahathir has spoken of the risk he is taking by not appointing a deputy, noting his age and the fact he had a heart bypass operation almost a decade ago, he has decided not to appoint a deputy prime minister before the UNO chooses a deputy president at its party conference next year.

Malaysian ambassador to Japan Khatib Abdul Hamid said Mahathir had expected to be asked about Anwar's sacking and arrest while in Japan.

"Dr Mahathir in his interviews with the various domestic Japanese media here will be able to present the Malaysian government side of the storyrather than from a Western slant as the Japanese people have been getting," the official Bernama news agency quoted Khatib as telling reporters in Tokyo.

Asked if he would meet with US president Bill Clinton during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting to be held in Kuala Lumpur next month, Kyodo this was up to Clinton to decide.

Mahathir is in Tokyo until October 20 to attend the Tokyo international conference on African development, which starts on October 19.

He is also expected to discuss Japan's recent pledge of $30 billion in aid to its Asian neighbours.