Mr Daim's resignation is reported to have been prompted by a falling out with Dr Mahathir over economic and financial policy, and it could add to political speculation in the run-up in the UMNO general assembly later this month. The party meeting is expected to be dominated by the issue of who will emerge as the most likely successor to the 75 year-old Prime Minister. Both previous Finance Ministers had been seen at some point as heirs apparent to Dr Mahathir and some say that his reluctance to immediately appoint a new Finance Minister could be due to not wishing to indicate a preferred choice of a potential successor. In recent months there have also been reports of political tension as a result of the arrest and detention of several opposition activists. There was a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on 4 June to protest against their detention, which could last for up to two years, without trial under the Internal Security Act.
Labor promises apology to Aborigines.
The Australian Labor Party has announced that it would put forward an apology to the country's Aboriginal population if it is returned to power after the coming general election, which is expected at the end of the year. The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Kim Beazley, said that a national apology to the Aboriginal population would be offered in the first week of the new Parliament if Labor forms a government. The apology issue has been highly controversial in Australia for several years and Prime Minister Hon. John Howard has been both criticized and praised for declining to make an official apology to Aborigines for what they are said to have endured since the colonization of Australia.