But Mahathir told the Mainichi newspaper it would still take a long time to make the comeback.

Mahathir said in the interview released on Wednesday that Anwar's political future depended on what happens at his trial.

Anwar was sacked last September 2 and detained 18 days later with Mahathir saying his protege was morally unfit to rule. Anwar, who had been leading a corruption campaign against the government, now faces corruption and sexual misconduct charges.

``If the court decides he is guilty he will not be active. If he is not guilty I am sure he will be active. But it will take time,'' said the Malaysian premier.

Mahathir last week named Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as his new deputy Prime minister and nominal successor, a position he reaffirmed in the interview.

``He will be the successor, this is our tradition,'' Mahathir told the Mainichi.

Abdullah, the former foreign minister who was made Malaysia's deputy premier in a surprise move on January 8, is one of three vice-presidents of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

The Malaysian premier said Abdullah as deputy premier would normally also be made deputy president of UMNO but since a party election was not scheduled for some time the post would remain empty.

Abdullah was the best choice, Mahathir said. ``He is balanced and the most qualified,'' the premier said, adding that he was `quite popular' within the party without pushing himself too prominently.