Titanic Malay clash

And I read this in BT on the floor today.

Business Times - 14 Aug 2006
KL political row could trigger more business casualties
By S JAYASANKARAN IN KUALA LUMPUR

THE escalating political row in Malaysia triggered its first corporate casualties on Friday amid speculation that the fallout in business circles could spread.

On Friday, Khairy Jamaluddin, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and a rising political figure, sold his entire 1.2 per cent interest in finance firm ECM Libra Avenue for over RM6.5 million (S$2.8 million).

*snipped*

In recent weeks, Dr Mahathir has escalated his attacks on Mr Abdullah, 65, to include his family and friends whom Dr Mahathir alleged had been unfairly helped by the government.

The ex-premier had also questioned ECM Libra's merger with state-owned Avenue Capital Resources in January, alleging that it had been pushed through unfairly to the government's detriment.

*snipped*

I didn't quite understand the whole issue. So I waited for dad to come home to explain to me. He didn't disappoint.

He said it's quite amazing Dr M has managed to draw blood in his clash with Badawi's camp although he is no longer in power.

Dr M (left) is the former PM of Malaysia. He stepped down in 2003 to pave the way for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (right). But they are now at loggerheads over a host of issues.

But Dr M also said he will stop sniping if Badawi builds a bridge to replace the Causeway linking Singapore.

I also read this in Malaysia's New Straits Times

Dr M: Build the bridge and I'll stop commenting
By Hamidah Atan, 15 August, 2006

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday that he would stop commenting if the bridge across the Johor Strait was built.

"Pak Lah (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) has to build the bridge. If he does that, I don’t have any more comments."

His reply came spontaneously when he was asked by reporters to comment on deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s sale of his stake of 10.2 million shares in ECM Libra Avenue Bhd, a financial services company. Khairy is also Abdullah’s son-in-law.

"Oh yes... that is good. First, they have to sell, then they should leave the fourth floor and go away somewhere and Pak Lah has got to build the bridge. If he does that, I don’t have any more comments."Now Proton is dead... all the vendors, all the dealers and salespeople are all losing money, so they are doing a good job serving Proton as promised by the Prime Minister."

*snipped*

But dad heard that Badawi rebuffed Dr M's olive branch tonight.

Dad is sleepy. He said he will tell me more tales about the titanic Malay clash in Malaysia tomorrow.

But can Dr M win? I want to know. I want to know. Grrr