Political suicide?

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (right in pix) has said that he has not committed "political suicide" by overturning some of his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad's (left) decisions, according to Bernama's report of his interview with CNN aired earlier today.

Badawi also said that he still commands majority support in the country, and he will still try to achieve Dr M's Vision 2020 to become a developed nation.

Will Badawi's latest overtures placate Dr M?

Unlikely, Dr M will continue to criticise Badawi until he overturns his own decisions in overturning Dr M's decisions.

Why? Simply because they had a gentleman's agreement to undertake projects that were dished out on the eve of Dr M's retirement in 2003.

The gentleman's agreement may have even been one of the conditions for Dr M to step down after 22 years in office.

PM Dismisses "Political Suicide" By Reversing Dr M's Decisions
October 14, 2006 18:09 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has dismissed the notion that he may be committing "political suicide" by reversing some of the decisions made by his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and be seen as rolling back on everything the latter had put in place.

Admitting that Dr Mahathir is still being held in the highest regard by many people after 22 years leading the country, the prime minister said he too commanded majority support.

"No, no, no, I don't think it's a political suicide. He has been saying a lot of things, I've decided to keep quiet and to go on doing what I want to do.

"And the people want me to do what I want to do. And I have and I still command majority support today," he said in an interview with Anjali Rao in the "Talk Asia" programme aired by Cable News Network Saturday.