KUALA LUMPUR. Aug 7: Malaysia's finance minister on Friday tried to put an end to weeks of rumours that his resignation was Imminent, reports AP.

Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim said there was "no basis" for the rumours and blamed the media and financial markets for floating the scuttlebutt.

"We've heard that it's been going on for some time." Anwar told reporters. He added that he meets with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on a daily basis. and there is no rift between them, as has been widely reported.

Resignation rumours have been circulating with greater frequency over the last couple of months, amid speculation of tensions between Anwar and newly appointed economic minister Daim Zainuddin. a close confidant of Mahathir. Daim has been pushing a relaxation of the tight monetary policy previously pursued by Anwar.

Changes in the chief editorial positions at the two leading Malay newspapers, seen as proAnwar, were also interpreted by market observers as an attack on Anwar's support base.

The rumours were believed to have had some effect on the ringgit, with dealers noting that persistent rumours about Anwar have helped weaken the national currency, which has lost more than 40 per cent of its value in the last year.

And shares on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange finished lower Friday as fears of a Bossible devaluation of the ong Kong dollar and Chinese yuan, coupled with market rumours over Anwar's resignation. spooked investors.

The Composite Index, which tracks share prices of 100 bluechip stocks, ended at 364.05 points, down 10.73 points, or 2.9 per cent.

Meanwhile, Anwar is fighting publication of a book entitled. "50 Reasons Why Anwar Can't Be Prime Minister," which came out during the United Malays National Organization general assembly in June.