Kuala Lumpur: It was business as usual for Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as he marked his 21st year in power on July 16 and his ruling party geared up for crucial byelections in his home state.

The veteran Premier had no scheduled public engagements for the day and would spend his 21st anniversary in his office in Putrajaya, his purpose-built administrative capital South of Kuala Lumpur, an aide said.

"It's work as usual for the Prime Minister," he said.

Later in the evening, Mahathir would watch an aircraft demonstration before calling it a day, he added.

The 76-year-old Premier has just returned on July 15 from a two-day trip to Northern Kedah state to campaign for his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in July 18 byelections.

UMNO faces a tough fight from the Opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysiafor the Malay heartland in a test of the public mood ahead of impending a general election, which must be called by 2004 but is widely expected next year.

The Pendang Parliamentary and the Anak Bukit state seats fell vacant following the death of PAS leader Fadzil Noor last month and a victory is crucial for UMNO before Mahathir hands over power to his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in October 2003, analysts say.

Winning the Anak Bukit seat will see UMNO regain the two-thirds majority rule in the Kedah state Assembly and a victory in Pendang will further boost its confidence in the general election.

"It will be a tough fight but we are going all out to win both seats. That is the best gift we can give to the Prime Minister," said a senior UMNO member.

With the political fraternity distracted by the polls, the insurance industry has taken on the task of organising a grand tribute to the man who has dominated the lives of Malaysians for the past 21 years.

Three insurance associations are sponsoring a major concert on July 27 at the national stadium and some one lakh people are expected to attend the "One Nation We Care: An evening with our Prime Minister" event.

"Together we shall show our appreciation for Dr Mahathir for his 21 years of leadership. As Malaysians, we are going to care for a man who has given us so much," said organising committee chairman K H Chia.

One of the world's longest serving leaders, Mahathir has cited "stability and relative racial harmony" as his greatest achievement in the last two decades and said he had no time to regret his mistakes.