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TOKYO - IN HIS first public appearance since he was hospitalised on Sept 13, outgoing Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe admitted yesterday that his declining health was 'the biggest factor' in his sudden decision to quit.
Looking pale and weak, Mr Abe said he wanted to apologise to the people before his formal resignation today.
'I would like to deeply apologise to the people for causing trouble to them. I regret that I couldn't meet the people's expectations,' he said at the press conference at the Tokyo hospital where he is warded.
He admitted that his Sept 12 announcement was of the 'worst possible timing', just two days after he gave a policy speech in parliament reiterating his intention to carry on.
His decision brought parliamentary proceedings to a standstill while the LDP looked for a successor.
On Sunday, the party elected veteran politician Yasuo Fukuda as its new president.
Referring to his health, Mr Abe said: 'I felt I had reached my limits and would not be able to continue to discharge my duties. So I decided to resign.'
He gave no details about his illness but was earlier reported to have a stress-related gastrointestinal disorder.
Asked if he had told then LDP secretary-general Taro Aso beforehand of his intention to quit, Mr Abe said reports claiming he had done so were not true.
Mr Aso, who ran against Mr Fukuda for LDP chief, was the favourite to succeed Mr Abe but was apparently hurt by speculation that he had kept information about the Premier's impending resignation to himself.
KWAN WENG KIN
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