Winding down his 22-year rule, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad bid farewell to his closest colleagues Wednesday at an emotional Cabinet meeting _ his last before he retires at week's end.

Some ministers wept as incoming leader Abdullah Ahmad Badawi led tributes to Mahathir during the meeting, though the veteran leader remained composed, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told The Associated Press.

Mahathir, chairing the 883rd meeting of his Cabinet since he came to power in 1981, initially didn't make any concessions to its historical significance, asking for updates on government policy.

``It was business as usual, but with an element of sadness,'' Syed Hamid said.

But with the business of the day finished, Abdullah made a short speech thanking Mahathir. ``We have gained a lot and learned a lot under you guidance and leadership,'' Syed Hamid quoted Abdullah as saying.

``Then there was total silence. Some of us shed tears,'' Syed Hamid said.

Mahathir, who formally stands down on Friday, thanked his ministers for their support and asked them to give his successor the same. The meeting broke up with a snapshot session and ministers seeking Mahathir's autograph.

The meeting was held inside the prime minister's palatial offices at Malaysia's gleaming purpose-built administrative capital, Putrajaya. Cabinet staff earlier presented Mahathir with a framed piece of fabric with the ``883'' hand-woven into it, the national news agency Bernama reported.

Outside the meeting, ministers including Consumer Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Defense Minister Najib Razak expressed confidence in Abdullah. Muhyiddin and Najib are the leading contenders for the deputy prime minister's post _ and potential leadership challengers.

Earlier Wednesday, Mahathir visited King Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullai at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur. Officials declined to give details, but said meeting the monarch was part of Mahathir's regular routine and that this week was no different.

Syed Sirajuddin will swear Abdullah in as Malaysia's fifth prime minister at a ceremony on Friday that Mahathir also will attend.

Mahathir, 77, is credited with turning Malaysia from a British colonial backwater into one of Southeast Asia's wealthiest and most modern countries.

Critics say the downside to Mahathir's achievements is an autocratic style that has seen democracy eroded and political opponents jailed without trial. He has also been an outspoken critic of Western nations' economic policies and the US war against terrorism.

Mahathir leaves office in a storm about his recent comment that ``Jews rule the world,'' which was widely condemned by the United States, Europe and elsewhere. Experts say they expect the furor to blow over once Mahathir retires.

Mahathir, who for years has traveled the globe tirelessly to promote his government, has kept up a regular calendar of routine events in his final week.

Newspapers on Wednesday carried photographs of a grinning Mahathir sitting astride a luxury sports motorcycle after he witnessed the signing of a joint venture between its Malaysian and Italian makers.

On Thursday, Mahathir is scheduled to give his final speech as leader in Parliament before formally resigning as president of the ruling party at a meeting of its Supreme Council.

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