Malaysian PM: ruling party facing problems

The Malaysian prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, says his party -- the United Malays National Organisation, or Umno -- is facing serious internal problems.

The issues were discussed at a meeting of the party's supreme council on Saturday, but Mr Mohamad told the Bernama news agency that no special decisions had been made.

In answer to a question, Mr Mohamad said Umno might consider holding discussions with the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia and the Keadilan Party to strengthen the unity of the Malays.

Mr Mahathir's sacking of his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, two years ago and Mr Anwar's subsequent jailing divided ethnic Malays and sparked dissent within Umno which has headed a multi-racial governing coalition since independence in 1957.

The party lost twenty-two parliamentary seats in elections in November last year and suffered a shock defeat in a by-election for a state assembly seat in Kedah last month.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service